My reason for no longer using the leg press stems from the lack of transfer to the squat. Since I’ll raise some hackles, I’ll explain.
I feel that of the 3 lifts, the squat is the one which is less aided by dissimilar variations. IMO powerlifting squat assistance should be as similar in motor pattern to the main lift as possible. For example a box squat performed a la Matt Wenning is more transferrable than a front squat. I also feel that properly programmed, the squat assists the deadlift and vice versa with the exception that a lifter who squats wide would probably do well to CDL most of the year a la Coan.
Regarding the leg press, in the past, I was one of those who would regularly include the leg press as assistance. At the time I was leg pressing 720 for 2 sets of 15 rock bottom with knees hitting upper arms, after squatting. When I returned to comp. lifting I abandoned the leg press and didn’t see a difference at all.
Plenty of gym rats can leg press in the 500’s who cannot squat 315 properly.
Besides most trainees I have dealt with over the years have been weaker in the posterior chain, so why perform a movement which uses no hamstring, no back/core, and has minimal glute flexion/hip rotation?