I'm with Button.
Define 'proper'! Access is a flexible tool which bridges the gap between Excel and mainstream systems using database structures and has the benefit of being a front end development tool as well.
I agree security can be an issue but I still see many large corporations using it as a necessary tool - even if not supported by IT.
Scaleability can be an issue however relatively easily overcome by having multiple back ends - but it is never going to provide the basis of say a billing system for a company generating millions of invoices a month.
In this world of rapid change, 'strategic' solutions or 'proper' databases are often too slow to change so companies can lose strategic advantage. I make my living providing 'tactical' solutions, designed to last perhaps a couple of years until the strategic solutions can catch up.
I tend to get involved in three areas:
1. Company A takes over company B, both have their own strategic solutions but they need to be merged now, not in 2 years time - think territory management, sales commissions, purchasing alliance
2. Company is in a rapidly converging market where new products are added and company faces different competition - think telecoms which has expanded to include landline, mobile, SMS, 3g, 4g, content
3. Company has developed key processes in Excel and now can't cope. Lots of those! - and why were they developed in Excel the first place? Because they either weren't in a position to define a strategic requirement or the required solution would take too long.