Are counter offers counter productive?

"The best way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it"- Oscar Wilde

The rationale and resolution of resigning takes a pounding for most people just as a revised compensation package is put on the table. The temptation to continue in a familiar work environment is very strong and many succumb to it.

The moment an employee resigns, if the management needs her/him, they will immediately flatter the employee with:

"We need you" (Until you serve your purpose and we find a replacement).
"You can't do this to us at this time." (You have to feel guilty about leaving)
"We never knew you were unhappy." (We don't care about a employee feedback system)
"We're sorry for the current state but you're too valuable, and we need you" (Of course they're sorry. You're about to leave on your terms, not theirs.)
"We were just about to give you a promotion/raise, and it was confidential until now".( You were'nt worth it till now. We were holding out the promotion till you want to leave, we have saved money till now)
"The big boss wants to meet with you before you make your final decision"(You were invisible to us till yesterday, but as we need to fill your vacany with an expense, the boss will try to save the expense)

The downtrends of accepting a counteroffer are that :

Instantly ruin all credibility with your new employer - he'll never give you another chance; the word will get around, and you'll come off looking like a gold-digger rather than a good employee;

Your present employer will no longer trust you; and you may wonder why you had to go to the point of resignation to get what they now think you're worth.

You can perhaps imagine a counter-offer so enormous that you'd be nuts to turn it down - but there will always be a catch.

Is it better to stay the chosen course?