Not long ago, creating the b/w version of the logo or at least the monochromatic version, had its reason for possible future applications: forms sent by fax, photocopies, advertisements in one single-ink newspapers ... But nowadays all this sounds like it caming from another galaxy. A company for which I work and whose original logo with different gradients is my responsibility, in their last web they decided to put the logo in black. Of course I absolutely refused, but they have not paid any attention to me. This was a couple of years ago.
Today, when I see the logo only in black, I only see how well designed it is, much more readability, more immediacy, more clarity. I've even considered the redesign, not in black, but in a single flat ink.
Until recently, the great advantage of the advances in printed reproduction and of course the image on the screen, imposed the colors limitless in absolutely everything. Situation that designers love because the lack of limitations makes our work much easier. But the businessperson or companies that deal with their corporate image day by day feel saturated, hence their preference for immediacy, clarity, readability, white or black.
I don't think practicality is contra-productive.
