via implies a route which includes a place, but not the concept of going "through" from one end to the other. So I go to Berlin via Stockholm not I go to Berlin through Stockholm but I walk to work through the fields or I walk to work via the fields. here it is both a point on the route and you have gone "through" it and out the other side. also via implies the destination is completely separate I work in the village I walk to work through the village not I walk to work via the village, because it is not a point on the way. since via is road, it is basically way of checking off the point without going into the mechanics of the journey (through, round, turning right at). And of course metaphorically it is just points on any journey. I came to happiness via excessive alcohol and daytime TV. Here it means those things were points on the way and are no longer true. So, to answer question, it is used a lot, it is a useful niche word.

'Through' and ' via' are 2 words that are often confused in English when it comes to their usage. They have different meanings and connotations. The word ‘through’ is used to mean ‘into’ but the word ‘via’ is used to mean ‘by’. This is the subtle difference between the two words.