Why do people keep posting on that topic? Is the Google-fu running weak?
I remember <i>, <b>, <em> & <strong> being discussed to death a decade back. See
Italic or Emphasis from June, 2011 for example.
For later examples, check
Extended <head> chapter: NOT necessary? from 2017 or the
<i>, <em> or <span> for italics? thread from 2020. In the latter two, pay
special attention to @Tex2002ans' posts.