My mother has been a florist for 40 years and this is totally normal and has been for generations. I don't understand why this article exists. Everything old is new again?
A few friends had 2-3 tiered cakes, but they were always real cakes, just quite boring internally (plain vanilla sponge). At most, there were posts through the middle to round pieces of cardboard/wood/something in between the layers for support, for one wedding I went to. Most others were just big elaborate "normal" cakes.
I always assumed the crazy big American wedding cakes on TV were at least mostly real, maybe with supports and levels to structure it.
I suppose this article exists because other people are surprised too.
I can't say I'm surprised learning about a new one from the USA Theme Park though.