Because "they" in text has always been common for me, it's not a change and not forced -- it's been like this as long as I can remember.

I can't speak for the British writing you've read, but as a Brit living in and having grown up in the UK, singular non-gendered "they" is normal and common in both formal and informal text. Could be a function of my social context or the writing I've been exposed to, it's true. We all have our own perspective.