Free: Contests & Raffles.
I'm not sure how it could be just a fad. It still packs all the punch it used to. I think what's happening is modern 9mm ammo is getting better, which is downsizing the need for something bigger/better. That's like saying the .30-06 used to be good at killing deer but isn't as good anymore since the 6.5x47 Lapua was created.
I carried a .40 Smith in college 25 years ago. At the time I liked the idea of a heavy 180gr bullet with out the complications of maintaining a 1911. The Gun was a pile of junk and ammo was pricey. I traded both in for a Ruger Sp101 in .357mag, and I have never missed the .40 I think the .40 will end up like 10mm, some guys will swear by it and companies will make guns for it but it will not have a huge market share.
Oh I get what you are saying Superdown. I'm not knocking 1911's, I was knocking my POS S&W. I was much younger and dumber. I had a smith sigma (copy of a glock without the quality) remove the slide and the spring and that was it. "Easy" to clean. But it stovepiped a lot.