[zzq1015]

From the Datatracker, I can see that it was called SEARCH until draft-2 (Nov 2021), and then changed to QUERY.

Also, the previous SEARCH method was proposed in Apr 2015 (!!), but nobody took it seriously, and it never gained traction back then. A lot of software was developed/updated during the last decade, and a lot of opportunities were missed. Even if the QUERY method is turned into a formal RFC right now, expect 10+ years for everyone to adopt it, without running into HTTP-405 or 501's.

[nine_k]

It just takes some significant piece of server software to start accepting it, RFC or not. "Write code, not laws", or however was that formulated.

See the history of the PATCH method, and of the whole WebDAV thing.