SVG is often not suitable for...
- Embroidery
- Signage
- Print production
When providing a logo you should provide usable formats for a range of things. SVG, EPS, AI, PDF, PSD, JPG, PNG, even GIF.
Simply because an SVG file can be opened in an editor and resaved is not a reason to fail to provide viable formats to the client. What if the client doesn't want to pay for the Adobe subscription and doesn't know anyone who does? If you, yourself, can't generate the format they need, what makes you think they can generate the format they need?
EPS is not "dead". It still has very viable uses, especially for older third party applications/uses. There are a wide range of specialty software applications that can only use EPS files. That's somewhat irrelevant though - if the client is asking for an EPS with transparency, you should be able to easily provide that.
You should be aware that what may seem easy to generate to you may seem insurmountable to the client. Client's typically won't know what formats are even possible or what a specific format is used for. They may be asking for an EPS because they were asked themselves for an EPS.
If you can't generate a proper EPS with your current software, then you need to upgrade. Or find someone with the proper software so you can farm things out. Don't leave the client sitting with files they can't use or in desperate need of a format they can't generate. That, to me, is the biggest unprofessional thing one can do.
Related: Logo Pack - What should I include?
All that being posted, if the client is asking for something which is simply not possible given the requested format, then you merely need to educate the client as to what the limitations of some formats may be.
Quite honestly, I think this all comes down to a reader's particular purview.
If all, or much, of what one works on is web-related, then they'll see SVG as very useful and reliable. I would ask these designers how they would feel if they request an SVG file, but are given a PDF or EPS instead -- a format that can't be directly used on the web -- and don't possess anything capable of converting PDF/EPS to SVG?
If all, or much, of what one works on is print and press related, then they'll see SVG as unreliable and often unusable without conversion to a more appropriate format.
So, it's only natural that one sees web designers or programmers arguing that SVG is "great"... when, in reality, it's absolutely not for print work.
It's not about availability, but more about usability.. it's about the need for something to convert SVG to a usable format when SVG is unsuitable. Clients don't have that most of the time.
Ultimately.... If a client asks for an EPS, give them an EPS. There are valid reasons to fulfill such a request.