Anterior bands are still sold in supply catalogs.  Somebody must be using them.

I've been reading old textbooks lately and a "small mallet" was recommend to help seat the bands.  "the mallet has a leather covered face of which softens the harshness while in no way interfering with the effectiveness of the blow". Sounds brutal.

While the move away from full bands makes me think braces are more civilized today,
 some of the molar distalization appliances available make me think otherwise.