VBF is not exaggerating at all unfortunately - I have quite a few younger guitar students that either have bands or are trying to start bands, and it's a huge problem if you're trying to play music "for real"
I went to a local show that was all teenage bands at the IOOF hall, and one of the drummers hit so softly you couldn't hear the snare drum over the guitarists tiny peavey bandit 110 combo amp. It was ridiculous. And it's not the only time i've seen something similar lately.
When I was a teenager the only time I heard someone drum like that, was when the bassist or singer or someone hopped on the drumset for shits and giggles.