Embassies/High Commissions needed or not?

About ten years ago I contacted the Canadian Embassy in Delhi on some
health and travel issues for travelling to the North Eastern region ... I'm
still waiting for them to get back to me! Times have changed, the information I needed then could be easily accessed on the Internet in general and most probably right here on IndiaMike at the click of a mouse.
Are these places just outdated retirement havens for journeyman bureaucrats or essential institutions? Anybody got good/bad experiences/thoughts?

I think that sort of question (health/travel issues) would be better posed to the country's tourism organisation than an embassy/high commission - they're usually busy looking after expats and tourists in the host country, organising immigration, visas and performing diplomatic and political duties instead...

In cases like this (Backpacker missing in India: Ryan Chambers. - Backpacker missing in India) embassies and high commissions are invaluable!

The travel related issues were related to the Bodo troubles/movements in Assam at the time ... not to be taken lightly. I eventually got the information I needed from the American Embassy who were quick and more than willing to help. The Canadian embassy is apparently still researching my questions. All embassies are not created equal ... some excel at stamping visas only ... others act as proactive source of information arresting potential problems before they can occur! Just wondered what the general consensus was?