I actually associate it with a younger writer, perhaps it skipped a generation. I can imagine that someone who grew up in a world where typing an em dash meant looking up an alt code would develop a style that avoids them—but it's only a long press of the - away on the device where I do most of my writing by volume so of course I'm going to use them.

I’ve stopped using em and en dashes for this specific reason.

And some of us are the sort of nerds¹ who use Unicode numeric superscript characters for footnotes.

¹ An unstylish or socially awkward person generally devoted to intellectual, academic, or technical pursuits or interests.

Some of us even know where to find them on the iOS—and the Android—keyboard.

I fell in love with them a long time ago when reading Nietzsche aphorisms.