Unicode is being called 'cutting edge' because it's no longer 'old hat.' Lots of things claim support for Unicode, but few (or none) support it well. Unicode isn't a software project, it's a spec/idea. It's like calling a Star Trek tricorder "cutting edge" because no one has implemented a fully-functional version. Sure the idea has been around for a while, but at this point there's no acceptable manifestations of that idea.