This question is as old as there are brakes in aviation! It's basically a philosophical question, and to that everyone has its own opinion.
Important to notice is that aircraft with iron brakes (the "older" aircraft") depended more on max reverse and minimal braking, to save money and brakes. The newer aircraft have carbon brakes (carbon fibre, like the one on formula one cars), have slightly different braking characteristics, can absorbe much more energy (i.e. can brake better), cost more, but less per braking cycle. With the increase of fuel prices, it has become practice to safe it, use idle reverse and let the brakes do their work.
So you might still see "older" pilots using the "old" technique, also in classical major airlines, because they learned it that way.
Interesting is also that newer aircraft designs depend less on reverse. They also found out that its more economical, and you can safe weight and costs. The A380 e.g. was originally designed without reversers, which was then refused by some customers, the actual design has only two reversers (on the inboard engines).
There are of course special situations, as mentioned before, if you have contaminated runways you use full revers, or if you have to follow noise restrictions, you use idle reverse, if you can.
hth,
Dani