My background is as an Olympic-style weightlifter. I'm a licensed sports power coach under the Australian Weightlifting Federation.
> High rep oly movements = dumb? In what situation?
In all situations. This is never a good idea. Ever.
> With what intended training effect?
If it's to improve technique, do more sets. If it's to improve cardiovascular conditioning, do something else.
> a periodized training program
Oh, you mean the kind of "voodoo science" that Crossfit HQ specificially eschews and that every top level Crossfit Games competitor nevertheless follows?
> If the exercise is stopped when form breaks down, I see nothing wrong here.
I'll say it again: quality control and exercise selection.
> If you've built up to it and have no achilles issues, this is not a concern.
And yet I see middle-aged housewives doing AMRAPs on box jumps.
And it's not just repetitive strain injuries. Misjudge the jump (because, I dunno, you're really tired from high rep box jumping), land on toes, fall down, snap.
A lot of Crossfit is fine. The problems still remain that quality control is explicitly non-existent and that exercise selection is hit-and-miss with a genuine fondness for stupid ideas.
Basically, no good and safe Crossfit gym has any resemblance to Crossfit HQ's vision except to pay a licensing fee to use the trademark.