In the mid-80s, my extended family was of the opinion that a .410 was THE youth shotgun. Fortunately my gun and hunting mentor, as well as a long time friend and professional colleague of my Father, convinced him that a .410 was the WRONG answer so my first shotgun was a 20. So no, I don't think it's a fad. People who knew wingshooting have favored the 20 for a youth option for a long time. It's still a good one IF built on a 20ga frame. If said youth is hefty enough to sling a 12 frame with reduced LOP, I feel that is a better option with low recoil loads now available, at least in my part of the country. I also find a lot of yellow hulls on the grouse trails, and that's not all kids so it has a following for light upland in my part of the country. That makes sense if one hunts primarily light upland game with perhaps close shooting for teal and wood ducks on the menu. Problem with MN is, we are a big-water waterfowl, goose and ringneck state, with grouse and other small game as an afterthought. I've experienced first and second hand the deficiencies of the 20 on these hard targets. Ammo has come a long ways, but you just cant throw a heavier charge, as fast, with as good a pattern with a 20. For this reason, the 12 is still king here, and will be for the forseeabil future.
