As mentioned above, Knuth's algorithms are implemented in many professional typesetting and layout applications. I think the people implementing those applications have great respect for Knuth (and Plass.)
My impression is that the users of those programs are unfamiliar with the algorithms used, so I think it is the latter.
Awesome, thanks! I foolishly forgot to see if there were siblings to my post. (I try and keep a handle on discussions I'm in with the "threads" link.) So, yeah, apologies for missing those posts.
My impression is that the users of those programs are unfamiliar with the algorithms used, so I think it is the latter.