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 I don't think that we were necessarily saying that the idea of punctuated equilibrium is the form of evolution that occurs in all instances.  Currently both the theory of punctuated equilibrium and the theory of gradualism are accepted as how evolution works.  There is proof for both theories differing based on the organism.  

Going in a sort of different direction, I have noticed in the last couple of weeks there has been a lot of talk about how because of the new way we are looking at evolution we must throw out everything we've learned in past classes about evolution, because those views are no longer valid.  I want to counter this idea.  I don't think it's necessary to completely let go of anything you've ever learned about evolution because that information is still valid.  The way we learn about evolution in our biology classes is a widely accepted view of evolution, and if we were to have never had that basis we would not be having the discussions that we are now having, which maybe suggests that our knowledge of evolution is also evolving in order to fir what we're studying.  I say this because I am also currently learning about evolution in a biology course, and in that course we are learning a much more "standard" view of evolution.  I think it would be naive to think that the way that we are talking about evolution is the only way.  But rather it is one of many different views one can have on the subject.