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Language Log[0] (where Mr Pullum often writes[2]) has a whole bunch of "prescriptive passive is nonsense" posts[1].

[0] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/

[1] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=passive+vo... (this does include praise for correct use of passive voice, etc., but there's a good amount of criticism.)

[2] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?author=3 (except this search appears broken, at least on Safari)

Orwell is partly to blame because he wrote against it. I suspect it is partly because passives are more cumbersome in English.

Many English writing guides seem to display a fear of adverbs as well.