Point blank, being certified must count for something. Logic would certainly support the theory that a knowledge verification process confirms ones qualifications.
But then there is a real world out there that looks and feels very different from book knowledge tested for certification.
Not testing for real hands-on work experience, something certified individuals will be doing, unless they plan to become instructors (if they do the lack of having done it in realty is not going to enable them to be good real life situation teachers), sort of falls short from being the highlight of ones resume.
Besides that, certification vendors are in it for the money, so their interest in accommodating the industry must be questioned.
eWEEK has a good article on this topic here.
Dautovic 