I think that the widespread use of computers to do number crunching has contributed to the problem with observing the significant digit rules. Actually it probably started with hand calculators.
My college professors in the late-70’s would beat us up over this, but I suspect that everybody falls prey to the use of over-precise answers.
Or is it "climate changers" now?
Slide rules - Three significant digits!
These media articles where some idiot reporter has converted from metric to imperial measurement or vice-versa and run it out to three digits or more.
As in, “The Cowboy’s halfback gained two yards (1.828 meters) on the next play”, instead of what actually happened, “The Cowboy’s halfback gained about two yards (about two meters) on the next play”.
City slicker asking farmer for directions, “It’s about a mile (1.609 kilometers) or so down the road”, instead of “It’s about a mile or so (1 to 2 kilometers) down the road”.