The wordpress.com theme showcase site is a brilliant invention: it allows you to read about all the available themes, see them in action, and filter them or sort them in various ways.
One of the ways you can sort them is by popularity. If you visited the site and clicked “Popular”, you’d see all themes arranged from most to least used. Naturally the order changes all the time, as new users join WP, new themes are added etc. Equally naturally, the “premium” themes (themes you pay for) have always been the least popular (see for instance my post on the January 2012 stats).
But recently WP, apparently in an attempt to draw more attention to the premium themes, made them jump about in, er, mysterious ways. Visit the theme showcase site, click “Popular”, click on each theme to read the details and marvel at the latest monkey busi miracle of the Almighty:
Twenty Ten:
“Our most popular theme! / 6,276,427 blogs use the Twenty Ten theme”
Twenty Eleven:
“Our 2nd most popular theme / 1,972,891 blogs use the Twenty Eleven theme”
Linen [premium]:
“Our 3rd most popular theme / 3,021 blogs use the Linen theme”
Bueno:
“Our 4th most popular theme / 1,727,980 blogs use the Bueno theme”
Delicious Magazine [premium]:
“Our 5th most popular theme / 2,359 blogs use the Delicious Magazine theme”
Wu Wei:
“Our 6th most popular theme / 1,585,354 blogs use the Wu Wei theme”
Titan:
“Our 7th most popular theme / 1,539,997 blogs use the Titan theme”
Photography [premium]:
“Our 8th most popular theme / 1,539 blogs use the Photography theme”
Shelf [premium]:
“Our 9th most popular theme / 1,350 blogs use the Shelf theme”
MistyLook:
“Our 10th most popular theme / 550,601 blogs use the MistyLook theme”
etc etc…
(Emphases mine. Data taken December 13; I deliberately delayed publishing this post, to make sure what I saw wasn’t a temporary glitch.)
Merry Xmas WP; hope you’ll grow up sometime…
PS For another display of WP magic, see the notes on Kubrick at the end of this post.
Update Feb. 2014
WP ‘improved’ the legerdemain: the “~ blogs use the ~ theme” bit of info has been removed…
wordpress tips 
The “Gawds” truly do work in mysterious ways!
Posted by IzaakMak | December 21, 2012, 22:55What’s that saying about lies, damned lies, and statistics? :-)
Posted by ELMalvaney | December 22, 2012, 03:16Hi Panos
we do not feel so long. I’ll give you best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Franco
Posted by portaleazzurro | December 24, 2012, 12:56As 2013 is about to blossom
now let’s dream your dream about rebirth and new roads to explore
the best I wish you sounds like my own best wishes, ain’t that funny
I win the palm, I am the worst :p
Posted by lilmaouz | December 31, 2012, 12:30Yep, lies, damn lies and statistics. In response to your observation above I’m wondering if you heard me SNORT across the miles between us.
Dear Panos,
You have created a unique and extremely valuable resource for us WordPress.com bloggers. I want to thank you for creating and maintaining this blog and for all you do to assist on the support forums. I value your friendship highly and I hope 2013 will be a year that exceeds all your expectations.
Best regards,
TiTi
Posted by timethief | December 31, 2012, 20:47Sorry guys – I was on vacation. Thanks and happy new year everybody!
Posted by Panos | January 9, 2013, 12:17It’s so good to have you back. I feared your were on long term walk-about like devblog and Rich.
Posted by timethief | January 10, 2013, 07:46I love your blog and all the help you give. I have really enjoyed reading them this morning. I have learned so much about WP – both the company and the software. It has really opened my eyes.
Posted by Sonja | January 25, 2013, 18:24Best WP Tip I’ve ever seen:
http://public.madeinengland.co.nz/how-to-make-comment-author-links-urls-open-in-new-windows-in-wordpress/
Basically stopps commenters stealing your traffic :)
Posted by bazzale | February 12, 2013, 01:52Thanks, but check point 1 here:
https://wpbtips.wordpress.com/comment-guidelines/
Posted by Panos | February 12, 2013, 04:14