The author is French. Using Roman numerals for centuries is the standard in Romance languages. And fecund is less obscure if your language derives from Latin. Not disagreeing, just explaining.
You're probably American and therefore accustomed to it. If it really is 'just as convenient', why is metric the standard in scientific practice?
> the power-of-ten based metric system is not very efficient when it comes to doing calculations on computers anyway
It's more efficient than the Imperial system.
It is merely a historic artifact that became a tradition. With the advent of computers it has lost its objective significance as a "preferred system".
(BTW I find all these "kilo-nano" prefixes to be rather ugly...)
The metric system is standard in scientific practice because it is more sane than the imperial system.
My point is that it all amounts to familiarity, and while people complain about someone mentioning the XIXth century, apparently everyone forgets that someone across the ocean may have the same difficulties hearing about someone being 6ft tall.