In so far as I can perceive, nowadays(or now-a-days) the usage of hyphens has drastically comedown. From the various examples you have cited I guess usage of too much of hyphens to join and make up a meaning of the words, isn't that much of an appeal. Yes,but in certain cases we may emply them and these are generally based on the comfort level!

Well all the conversations strayed way off the target. In effect we are supposed to consider the object and the subject in the sentence. Now considering 'I' as the subject then 'he' is drunk.
One more angle to look at would be of the intonation and stress applied while speaking out the sentence.