That same argument could be applied to functions (or procedures, if you prefer) as well as macros, and yet I don't believe anyone sane is arguing against functions/procedures. Bad code is bad code, just as bad metacode is bad metacode.

I don't believe that Lisp macros are particularly tricky for a professional-level programmer. Yes, students can use them improperly — but students can and will use anything improperly! One grows out of it eventually.