But I wonder if it really did get that much popular as implied in the popular press. Clash Royale released about the same time was much more popular.
I know it's just a local sample, but for something supposedly more popular than Pokemon Go, I'd expect to encounter at least one player.
I know some people in the middle east who even do it as a side "job" since the pay is significant enough
anecdotally, I don't notice clash royale being as popular with adults as pokemon go. it may be true that it's not very popular in your world, if you don't spend a lot of time around children/teenagers. in my bubble, I hardly ever see people playing pokemon go anymore.