I think it's the wallet software users are using. People tends to use the recommended fees by the wallet software. Yesterday I had a 1 sat/Byte tx cleared. It was hanging there for last few days but I did not bother.
I think people are overpaying because of ignorance.
I have to admit I always pay a little over the recommended fee. I dont like hanging around, waiting. It makes me paranoid. When I was claiming BCH the other year & moving coins I fucked up & paid low fees due to the wallet I was using. I was not happy.