Are Site Maps still a "best practice"?

I'm wondering if I should start including site maps in my navigation  
recommendations, as a best practice. I had been under the impression  
that a well-designed site shouldn't need a site map. A client is now  
asking whether to include it or not. From a quick search, I couldn't  
find any usability studies from 2009 or 2010 on the subject. Most  
sites recommended site maps along the 'can't hurt' motto -- though  
these do add one more item on the 'to create and maintain' list.

Nielson's '08 study indicates that 7% of people use it, and that it's  
still a useful feature that should be included. http://www.useit.com/ 
alertbox/sitemaps.html
Jared Spool believes it is often a "design cop-out" that addresses  
symptoms, but not the root of the issue. Does anyone have more  
current research, or thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Zoey
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