The answer is stability. Subsequent versions of Hicad (2023, 2024) introduced cloud collaboration tools and ribbon interfaces that some users find bloated. is considered the "classic car" of CAD viewers. It is lightweight, does not require an internet connection for license validation, and runs smoothly on older laptops used in construction trailers and field workshops.
HICAD (often associated with systems like HICAD/DRAW or HICAD-2000) is a CAD software series developed primarily for the Japanese market. While it has largely been succeeded by more modern platforms, many manufacturing and construction companies still maintain archives of files (often with extensions like .HIC or .CD$ ).