I'm not sure how much you interact with the "average internet user", but when I do help desk roles, as well as my role working for a floating university, I interact with hundreds of non-technical end users (Given my job history, I've interacted with thousands over the years). What I can tell you is that basing any theory about statistical anomalies on your preconceived notions without any hard data to back it up is usually an exercise in failure.

And how many of the people you talk to do you think use the site: operator?

And those are supposed to use site-provided search boxes for specific content?