The English language in decline?

Nor is this an isolated slip, for later (at page 222):

'"I stumbled upon some interesting documents a few days ago …"

'"What are they?"

'"To be honest, I have no idea. I was hoping you might know."'

These examples could be repeated from novel after novel, speech after speech, conversation after conversation. Do offending novelists excuse the use of the phrase, and its ubiquity, by asserting that they are simply putting into their characters' mouths dialogue in conformity with everyday 'street' language? Yet can such an explanation hold, when 'you know' does not slip into the 'everyday' language of characters populating antipodean novels, despite its omnipresence on the street.

Is it a matter of word-count? Would Dickens have employed the phrase, had it been in use in his time, to extract a few extra notes or coins from his publishers? Is it a case of copy editors no longer being employed by publishing houses to slash with a blue pencil such annoyances, or would copy editors not notice the otiose nature of the phrase?

Certainly, eliminating 'to be honest' serves readers (and writers) far better, as in:

'"Did you ever look for the money?"

'"I considered it …"'

And:

'"We have to have her, at least for tonight, … I didn't think she'd get in touch at all: I'm only pleased she feels she can trust me."

Still, such superfluity of words is not confined to these: 'To be honest' is not the only offender in today's world. Take all the service announcements – whether spoken or written: