IRCv3 has the same problems as XMPP's XEPs [1]. You need servers capable of handling these standards, and then you need clients capable of handling these standards.
In the meantime people will chose other platforms that provide better and more consistent experiences.
That's entirely possible, but commercial products are not infallible either. I remember a time before Slack when many companies were using Skype for intra-company chatrooms. Then Microsoft managed the product to death and people started looking for new solutions again.
E-mail is about as terrible as IRC and yet it just won't die.
> Then Microsoft managed the product to death and people started looking for new solutions again.
That's very true. Products fail. So instead of blaming others for failing to provide integrations, I would look at what made these products popular in the first place. Unfortunately most discussions around XMPP and IRC rarely actually discuss this.
Speaking of Skype. You can actually see how management fails to understand the popularity and features of other communication platforms in each release. It's funny and sad at the same time.
In the meantime people will chose other platforms that provide better and more consistent experiences.
[1] https://gultsch.de/xmpp_2016.html