This is a great discussion :)
I guess, from what I know and have experienced, even internals during labour aren't necessary for a skilled caregiver who is used to normal labour and birth - they just KNOW what stage you're at by observation and asking you questions. The middy at my first birth knew I was in transition as soon as I arrived...I didn't, I was telling her it was taking ages and that I was further behind than I actually was! Then, she knew when I was ready to breathe the kid out and had the bath filling in time with my progress. I've spoken to midwives since who have talked about the way a woman moves, what she'll say, etc, and this comes from continuity of care, too, but not always (the one at my birth was the only midwife at the FBC I hadn't met before that day!).
So, in terms of internals during labour, a midwifery team that isn't reliant on monitors, machines that go beep and text books won't need to do internals to know where you're at and whether you're ready or too late for pain relief.
Issues about internals done outside of labour have been canvassed really well here! Particularly the difference between DTD and an internal - well explained, thanks :)
None of us here, that I've noticed, have taken the tack of 'Obs v midwives', and I don't - for me it comes down to experience with uninterrupted pregnancy and labour, and there ARE Obs out there who still believe in this! And there are middies in the system who don't, by the same token.
