That's probably multifaceted. One reason, and I know it's an unsatisfying answer, is that other methods were sexier. Phonics seems really dry, and "schoolma'am

That's probably multifaceted. One reason, and I know it's an unsatisfying answer, is that other methods were sexier. Phonics seems really dry, and "schoolma'amy". "Here's a bunch of rules on how letters make words and a big list of apparent exceptions to memorise." There's also the expert problem, where anybody teaching reading has long forgotten just how hard it is to learn. It seems totally natural to most people in the modern day to be able to read. But it's actually totally unnatural. Hence why you have a bunch of methods designed to get kids to start "naturally" reading, without all that nasty, boring, rule-teaching stuff that old stuffy teachers in boarding schools used to do. Not like us modern, cool, hip teachers who actually like kids, etc. Etc. It's as much about identity as anything else in my opinion. Like many inexplicable things.