Main reason that exFAT is less popular is because Microsoft still owns some of the patents on the underlying tech (but has permitted the Linux kernel access to those patents so Linux can have exFAT support). That makes it less popular for all the various pieces of niche hardware that accept microSD cards to extend storage.

Device makers that do support exFAT have to pay Microsoft for every sale. It's why for example the Nintendo Switch enables exFAT as a "system update"; that way Nintendo doesn't have to pay Microsoft for every single switch sold, only the ones that are actually using exFAT for external storage.

I think the last of those patents will expire by 2027? You'll probably see an uptick in exFAT use by then.

Something where you don’t risk being hit by a Microsoft patent even when you’re not Linux?

(Also that’s still a floppy-grade filesystem, no journalling or anything.)

obligatory

https://xkcd.com/927/