Yep, the last time I ever heard a Karnaugh map mentioned was in a classroom. A lot of the stuff you "learn" in the classroom goes out the window in the real world.
In the 70's, I was working on a joint project with Univac developing the BC/7 business computer. I was working on a communications board for the system and I wanted to use a microprocessor in the design. Boy, you should have heard the screams from the traditionalists! "You can use a processor for an I/O board!!!" My reply was why not, it's just an IC with 40 pins, and it's the best choice for the job! The sticking point was at the time the Intel 8080 was several hundred dollars, a lot of money for one chip back then. However, I got it into the design anyway. 
