I don't and when I hear it, it always sounds odd..
I always have, I was just brought up that way.
But the one that gets me in a bunch is when people pronounce the word aunt, as ant. that drives me nuts.
I had to say it a few times and think about it.
I think I do pronounce the "T" in often.
But I also pronounce the "L" in solder.
Sometimes I even pronounce the "K" in knife.
Does anyone pronounce the "t" in soften? Of course not, the t is silent as it is in often. I also treat the "u" in aunt as silent but I think that's more of a regional thing. Speaking of the silent "t" there's a story that Jean Harlow met Margot Asquith and pronounced her name as "Mar-gott". Lady Asquith told her the "t" was silent, like the "t" in "Harlow"
It's a regional thing and I presume corresponds with the local accent. I'm in UK and it wouldn't have ever crossed my mind to say often with a silent t! I mustve heard it like that on TV etc but never noticed.
I'm not so sure it's a regional thing. I have never pronounced the 't', but my daughter does. It really bugs me that she does, too! Hahaha! Her reason when I asked her, "because there's a 't' in it." I didn't ask her at the time how she pronounces 'herbs'!! Haha!
I think I used to and a big fuss was made in 7th or 8th grade when I pronounced it; the teacher said something about Shakespeare and I wasn't sure if I pronounced it and wasn't supposed to or didn't pronounce and was told that I should. Anyway, don't think I do nowadays, but I suspect the answer is that I usually do not, but sometimes do.