Web designers don't have to be programmers just like architects don't have to be carpenters. They just have to know good ones. In this case, the design firm probably lacked programming staff yet needed a no-cost mindless way to implement search.

Maybe the firm said "Well, we recommend Verity but it will be another $20,000 to implement". To which the client replied "No way!"

With the popularity of Matt Wright scripts, it's a shame he doesn't update the scripts. As the Archive is his business, you'd think he'd feel some responsibility in that regard.

His website says "I always have lots of stuff in the works, but most of it only gets about halfway finished before I get bored and give up. That's the way I work. :)"

That says a lot.