I don't think it's an outdated perception. It's something else that might get me in trouble if I expressed it. I have sat in on probably 50+ different college classes over the past ten years. All of the people leading those class gave coherent presentations. I've also exchanged email with many other professors whose classes I did not attend for one reason or another. Of course I pick the classes and professors based upon my personal interests. My experience has been that they all write well too.
ML/NJ