Why not hexagons?

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Squares match the grids in modules and squared off corners of rooms and corridors so easily, as well as handle cubic spell areas, I can see reluctance to go to hexes. However, hexes have great advantages in movement and spell areas that are rounded or cones that are impossible to deny.
Both have competing advantages, but I give the ease of use nod to squares.

This, essentially.

 

[Skyscraper]

Hexagons have six sides. Six is the number of the beast. The beast is a creature of nightmares. Hence, hexagons are the stuff of nightmares.

 

[wrecan]

Hexes are also difficult to envision in three-dimensional combat, such as aerial or aquatic.

 

[Spatula]

Hexes are fine as long as you don't have a lot of straight lines (such as walls) on the battlefield. As such, they can be put to good use outdoors, but in the dungeon they're more confusing than anything, IMO.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

There are relatively few advantages of hex over square that you can't also get by having an "offset" grid of square, where every other row is slid half a square. Instead of:

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you get:

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That is essentialy a stylized hex grid with straight lines. Having made my own mathematically correct hex grids on poster board when I was too poor to buy one, I wish it had occurred to me then.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Grids are also easier to draw or make. You can draw up a grid fairly quickly with just a straight edge.

Grid paper is also easier to find and purchase. Which makes drawing up maps and dungeons a lot easier for the DM.

Squares match the grids in modules...

These are the only solid grid advantages I've encountered. Everything else boils down to "Well, hexes just look...weird." Mostly, it's just a matter of familiarity.

But for a DM like me who owns a hex map and writes his own adventures, grids don't do anything that hexes can't.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Because people build in right angles, squares fit man made terrain better than hexes.

Squares also fit the page better.

Really, aside from overland measurement, there is no advantage to using hexes, so why bother? Even for overland measurement I prefer a map with no hexes, then I can use a piece of acetate with a hex grid to do the measuring, or do it the old fashioned way with a divider.

The Auld Grump

 

[SnowleopardVK]

Hexes are fine as long as you don't have a lot of straight lines (such as walls) on the battlefield. As such, they can be put to good use outdoors, but in the dungeon they're more confusing than anything, IMO.

Hm, that's a decent point. It depends on where you're adventuring though, as anything natural (not just outside, but caves and such as well) would be better represented by hexes.

But... From the responses it really seems like the biggest reason that people don't like hexes is that they're more complicated than squares. Is "Six sides is too complicated" seriously the number one concern?

 

[Skyscraper]

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you get:

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I'm loosing my eyesight trying to figure out the difference between those two sets of lines. Can you point out the difference please?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

I think Crazy Jerome's formatting is wonky in that text demo.
If I understand what he's saying, the "offset" grid he's talking about looks like:

So you get alot of the same effects as hexagons, because any one square is surrounded by 6 others. I've also heard it referred to as "brick" grid or similar.