They are popular because they are popular, which is a circular argument that suits a pie chart. But there are some serious downsides to using the humble pie.
Although the bar chart is objectively better, especially the 3d ones, the pie chart is more intuitive and simpler to understand for a lot of people.
A halfway point in between is the tree map chart
example
The color blindness problem can mostly be avoided. The tiny slices issues can be present in all three including the bar chart, for example if we have this data (these are percentages): 50 30 18 0.5 0.3 0.2 etc… The final bar chart would be either too long or too squished.
In a tree map chart, by moving the data/squares around you can avoid the problem of the squares being squished which the author is complaining about
Although the bar chart is objectively better, especially the 3d ones, the pie chart is more intuitive and simpler to understand for a lot of people.
A halfway point in between is the tree map chart example
The color blindness problem can mostly be avoided. The tiny slices issues can be present in all three including the bar chart, for example if we have this data (these are percentages): 50 30 18 0.5 0.3 0.2 etc… The final bar chart would be either too long or too squished.
In a tree map chart, by moving the data/squares around you can avoid the problem of the squares being squished which the author is complaining about
Is this a troll?