[kzz102]

I am wondering how much of the hate of LaTeX document is due to the default font. Computer Modern seems to be disliked by many users of LaTeX as well. I personally am very conflicted, as I have come to identify it as the "vanilla" option so that I have lost any aesthetic sensitivity to it.

[azalemeth]

Computer Modern immediately signals to me "This was written in [Xe|Lua|]LaTeX". That alone has value; at the absolute least it tells me that the person writing it knows enough about computers to drive LaTeX to produce a compiled document.

If reviewing e.g. applications from undergraduates for a summer studentship, that signal is a subconscious hint saying 'read this a bit more closely' if nothing else.

[setopt]

Which is unfortunate, since the students using a different TeX font often know more about TeX.

[jillesvangurp]

Designers seem to prefer other fonts. That seems to be true whether they work for traditional publishers, advertising agencies, news papers, or indeed web agencies. It just does not seem to be a popular choice outside the narrow niche of people who use latex. Who are of course mostly not designers. And having worked with some great designers in recent years, I tend to follow their lead when it comes to making things look good.

But beyond me being conditioned to be bored out of my head reading scientific papers (being an ex-academic who definitely does not miss having to read lots of poorly written papers) written with latex and having that look, I shouldn't have much of an opinion on the matter.

[TeMPOraL]

IDK. I never had any problem reading the default font on screens, which seems to be the problem according to some commenters. It's more that the default style overall feels unappealing and space-wasteful (I get leaving margins for note-taking is a thing, but come on), and yes, also reminiscent of super-boring math stuff. And more than that still. I find myself disliking the style holistically, and can't put my finger on why exactly.