If anything, I love Blender more than most, as I actually compile my own from trunk (git), but I can sort-of understand why mainstream CG people stay with Max or maya.

To illustrate the point, I'll use Windows as an example. Whilst a lot of PC users have migrated to Mac or Linux, most elect to stay with Windows, because they feel only Windows will do everything they need it to do.

Fair enough.

I use Linux 99.999% of the time. It does everything I need it to do and then some. However, I do use Windows (on bare metal, so dual-boot) for Poser Pro 2014. So, I'll use Windows when I simply can't accomplish something I want/need to in Linux. It's rare, but it does happen.
But I'll be the first to admit that Linux is a philosophical choice as much as it's an economic one. And most importantly, recently it has become an efficiency choice: I can do things from the command-line (Terminal) infinitely more efficiently than via a GUI. Like trim rubbish off the ends of a video whilst preserving the original quality. Hard to beat ffmpeg for that.
What I'm saying is that I'm happy to learn new workflows, particularly if I end up saving time or improving quality of output in doing so. But I can be understanding of folk who have developed a workflow in, say, maya which would be unachievable in a reasonable amount of time -- if ever -- in Blender. For organisations who hire these people, artists who have trained on maya at uni and who understand how to achieve their goals with that software, a $5000 /seat price-tag is worth it.

This is the nature of pro software: you're going to pay a premium to get all the bells and whistles. Same for MS Office: who really needs all that grunt to write a resume? I could make the same point for Photoshop, which here in Australia costs $1700 MORE to the consumer than what it costs folks in the US. Is Photoshop really WORTH $1700 MORE to the casual graphics artist than, say, Photoshop Elements or even GIMP? no.
I mean: $1700? really?
No.

So, re your original point, HMorton... for us casual 3D modellers, Blender is more than powerful enough. CG houses ARE beginning to see some value in aspects of Blender and so are including it in their pipeline, but for them, Blender will never be suitable to answer all their needs.

Blender isn't maya. Which is a good thing. :)

Monterey/Mint21.x/Win10 - Blender3.x - PP11.3(cm) - Musescore3.6.2

Wir sind gewohnt, daß die Menschen verhöhnen was sie nicht verstehen
[it is clear that humans have contempt for that which they do not understand] 

Metaphor of Chooks