They are not a fad as I have wanted one for over 25 yrs. Finally got one last year. It's so light weight and easy to take to class. Very reliable. I have come to realize at home I use it for piecing all the time. I don't have to take it in for regular maintenance that costs a small fortune like I do with my bells and whistles machine. It's easy to do the maintenance myself. Believe me people who own them almost all own a fancy machine for doing other stitches and for actually quilting. Some people with extra money collect them-maybe that's a fad. But no they are really worth it.
Kat