> "popular" - i.e the most populous. i.e. the most used.

Not necessarily... 'popular' has a number of (very similar) meanings - including one of which corresponds to 'widespread' (as you're trying to portray) and one which infers approval (which you seem to be trying to deny is intended).

When it comes down to it, only the author would know what the inference was meant to be (if he thought about it much at all) - the rest is guesswork on your, and others, part.

Also to be *really* f picky, popular does not mean 'the most populous'.