[everforward]

> So why are we using it for so many naturally non-graph problems? 90%+ of developers' exposure to graphs is through tightly abstract interfaces, I could name maybe 3 graph-related algorithms off the top of my head, but could implement none of them without reading.

It's a reasonable abstraction for structuring related bits of data (like would go in a typical relational database), and that abstraction can align with the developer's mental model easier.

E.g. ORMs basically convert SQL data into an in-memory graph. Likewise, graph database APIs are natively more object-y; you follow the edge from child to parent, instead of making a bit of data the same in both tables and then querying matching rows.

They're not perfect, and shouldn't be used everywhere (nor even many places they currently get used), but I can see the appeal of abusing them.