Yes, please note that BigTechCo using something in production is not an endorsement that it's production-ready. Ironically, more often than not, it means the opposite. BigTechCo employs the best computer scientists in the world to make all of that stuff work together, frequently including the project's founders/BDFLs so they can get whatever changes they need rammed through. Your company does not have this luxury.

It is definitely an endorsement that it is ready, although maybe not we-search-code-monkeys ready.

A large part of our jobs is figuring things out.

People looking for so-called production-grade tech are usually looking for ready-for-managers tech in my experience.

I'm pretty sure Simon Peyton Jones is still at Microsoft Research.