"The controversy is whether it's a real affectation or just some unconscious sound that's always been around but is only being noticed today by carping old people who don't know how to rock."

No controversy... I abhor it. And I know how to rock... far more than any brain dead little valley girl (your words re "valley girl"). Some "sounds are cool" but an entire change of speech pattern and inflection that simply detracts from human communication is, well, unacceptable to me.