Wow... lively thread. I'm with SpaceBus, I see nearly every dealership around here using torque sticks as standard, when rotating tires. They're not "dead on balls accurate" (it's an industry term), but in hand-checking my own after each rotation at the dealership, I find they're reasonably close.
One thing folks here seem to be ignoring, in all their boasting about using a torque wrench, is how horribly inaccurate 90% of them are. Unless you've had yours re-calibrated by a proper NIST or ISO traceable service in the last few months (let alone years or decades, like most DIY'ers), it's highly probably your torque wrench is off by more than the variable result of any torque stick. Sorry, it's the truth.
In having a lot of high-horsepower recreational vehicles, one with tires as large as 40" x 17", I have learned that having equal torque on all studs of a wheel is more important than the actual value. Whether it be 80 or 100 ft-lb, I've never had any issue with them all holding tight, when set equally. I've also experienced them coming loose, when one or a few are tighter than the rest, not exactly a huge surprise.
I won't get my panties in a bunch when I see the mechanic using a torque stick on even my most expensive wheels. It's about the best you can hope for in a shop where time is money. Yes, I re-torque them a few days after pickup, as much out of following the rule to re-check after 100 miles, as any distrust in the original mechanic.