Crate training is a brilliant way of house training your puppy.
We used this method with my dog Bracken and it really worked.
I agree that it shouldnt be used for punishment either as this can undo all the hard work both you and your dog have put in.
Bracken enjoyed learning this way so much that at a year and a half old we still occasionally find him curled up in his cage, door wide open, of his own accord!very sweet!