I know of several linux pro-audio users who do not have pulse installed, but I think more of the ones I talk with are like me: we have pulseaudio for most "desktop audio" stuff like web browsing, listening to music, etc... all generic tasks. Its perfectly good for that! But as soon as we go to produce some music we use pasuspender or other methods that bypass pulseaudio and use JACK or pure alsa. I don't have any real numbers but I think thats pretty common. So my suggestion is if you aren't actually doing audio production don't fear pulse.