IRC is the best way to text-talk online that was ever made, so what it is a very old protocool still works for many people
I agree, but now it's used by people who used internet in the 90's then it was (i suppose) the only Real Time Chat that gathered users from around the world (except ICQ).
now it is substitued by variety of communicator, messengers, online chats (most online chats are based on IRC. e.x. WP.PL Chat) .
Just because IRC is not very popular it does not mean it's not good
That's true.
But i think "Internet Elders" use IRC now. It's old - true - but good protocol.