I think for many families the concept of special dishes, used daily or kept for special occasions, has outlasted today's lifestyles.
In my case, the kids are spread out across the country, many people cannnot travel because airline tickets/gas is prohibitive &, so, huge family get-togethers are becoming increasingly rare.
The biggest advantage to having special china would be as a visual reminder of occasions(getting to know people we have only heard of, and ,best of all, hearing the "family stories" that DO connect us all).
(Of course, that has to compete with sports & parades on T.V.) :?