Um, I really don't like question marks at the end of statements?

[Giggles]

Reading this thread actually made me nauseous. I never knew I hated the statement-ending-with-a-question-mark so much!

[Timekeeper]

I know some English people who would often complain about Australian people having that upward inflection at the end of some sentences, but that's often part of the accent.

The wiki article you have there, Heath, has a good explanation as to why it is used, 'Its use is also suggestive of seeking assurance from the listener that he is aware of what the speaker is referring to.'