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I've heard this "gender issues" argument but it isn't at all accurate, JMR. The reason that this is a bogus rule, like all the prescriptive lies/rules are bogus is that native speakers never follow/never followed these rules in their natural language use.
"everyone" is grammatically singular, but it is notionally plural. If I say to a crowd of people, "Everyone, please stand up", I don't expect that I will have to address each person individually, and indeed, that fact has been revealed to be true countless times.
If you state "Everyone, please stand up" you are issuing a request to each and every person in the room. When I hear that I think to myself, hmmm do I want to? Must I? OK, yeah.
In court rooms, "All rise" is used, and pretty much says ALL you people need to rise.
And I have no doubt that many authors used language that suited their purpose. Actually knowing, or trying to be come aware of the grammar of formal English is not Pedantry. Also defending blatant misuse is not Anti-pedantry.