Certifications and IT

This is an opinion i want to hear about.

Currently, i work in a network department. All we deal is with networking. I was asking some of the higher level techs if they have any certs.

What i found out is either there are many of the Tech 3's (High level tech) do not hold any certfications except the wireless specialist. (CCNA wireless, CCNP, some kind of nortel cert and Network +)

The lower level techs also, do not hold any certs. One of them used to have MCSP and another is CCNA trained. But other than that, notta.

Currently, i have my CompTIA A+, and i just wrote my CCNA, ( i might write it again, but i don't know....) but failed.

What do you think personally about certifications and IT? Are they really needed? There seems to be very successful Network techs that do not hold anything. Is it more of a personal goal? do you think?