it's probably more of a geographical thing. Where I live there are two seasons - really hot & humid - and not so hot and humid. When typical attire is shorts & a tee shirt (or really dressed up with a polo shirt & dockers) - pocket carry is very appealing.
I wear a heavy cover garment maybe a dozen times a year. Not enough to warrent carrying a big, heavy, bulky, hi-cap anything. So anything with reasonable power, that's reliabile, is compact, is light weight and acceptably accurate within about 30 feet is going to work well for me.
Power to you all that live in areas where you can comfortably carry really big & heavy guns. But for the probably 30% of us that live in more temporate zones - pocket carry is very appealing.
NOTE: I just learned that 50% percent of the U.S. population lives within 100 miles of an ocean, Gulf or Great Lakes coasts. Since the Mid Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes states are predominentally "Blue States" (limited gun ownership and much more limited personal carry options allowed) - practically no one without "government" connections in those areas can carry concealed. Most every where else, it's hot & humid - so the light clothing issues I discuss above apply. So the logical conclusion has to be that a light & small handgun should be the prefered choice for most persons who carry firearms for personal defense. Argue what you want - but facts are facts. Small, light, compact, concealable, accurate & reasonably effective handguns are the most practical personal defense weapons in this country.