is XML support being depicated?

The only examples of use are in a directory called "/examples/old". does this mean that XML support and integration with Tables is being depricated?

No, absolutely not - XML is and will be supported. The directory is called 'old' because it contains 1.0 examples converted to 2.0 API - to show how to upgrade from 1.0 to 2.0. Sorry for the confusion.