To explain the fad I listen to a desinger give an interview. Americans like the worn out look, but do not have the time to distress their own jeans, or make the best jeans look right. So they (the desingers) are doing it for us. That way we can have our favorite "worn" jeans without haveing to go through the time it would take to Wear them out.
Since distressing them takes time, they cost more.
To listen to this guy talk was so interesting, You want me to willing pay more to have you ruin a pair of jeans, and I will agree to this because I don't have the "time" to do it myself. Uh huh, right, I don't think so.