How well known is PATH to downtown natives?

Yesterday I was in Union Square looking for the 14th street station. I asked a bunch of people (including a MTA subway rep) where it was, and they all told me go back to 33rd street. Is the PATH that unused?

No, it's definitely not unused...

I don't remember myself exactly how to "transfer" from Union Square to the PATH 14th Street station. You might have been told to go back up to 33rd because it may be more obvious, and less of a walk, all underground. I don't have access to a subway map as I write this so someone correct me if I'm wrong about this.

The 14th Street PATH station is under 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas to the tourists ) and Union Square is east of there a bit.

The answer (from the Virgin Atlantic store I first asked in) was all of "walk two blocks down), that's all.