Later, I had to learn basic trigonometry to learn land surveying (before it became computerized) and simple equations to run a fire truck (before that became more programmable). To me, it's more practical to teach people the math they actually need than having them take years of it just to say they took it.
You used it; you just don’t realize you did!
And you use forms of it all the time and don’t realize it.
The reason you may find what I say baffling is because algebra is so poorly taught!
Equations require a knowledge of algebra. Trigonometry as well.
The reason you have never used algebra says more about how it was taught than the utility of algebra. One huge problem is that most high school and elementary mathematics teachers are incompetent. Paying higher salaries to competent math teachers than English and Social Studies teachers would hurt their pride. Not that humanities teachers are not also incompetent for the most part.