I think it's a shitty way to do things. It stretchs a conversation that should take 5 mins over the course of an hour.
Discussion
I'd be willing to concede that it has merit in the context of back and forth messages between work collegues in a group chat or something like that, but for casual conversation and catch up's, it's unatural and jarring to have this arrhythmia, stop start stop start.
It's a matter of personal preference. For me it works - with select people.
It's perfectly fine if for you it doesn't. Just another option on the menu!