>> it seems to be true among Japanese . . . that they almost never use this pronoun, preferring a third-person reference instead. <<
Might have something to do with Asian cultural norms, because I have noticed the same tendency in the Chinese and Thai languages.
Interesting and likely right.
“Ni” is you in chinese and I do tend to hear it a fair amount when I’m in Shanghai/Beijing, but typically only in questions and not in directives/comments.
Actually in Chinese they use the pronouns for “you” all the time; I do speak Mandarin fluently. But, they have two forms, one of which is more respectful, like the French vous. I don’t know anything about Thai.