Is this a new trend?

cookies

@viridian has a point. The number of houses I've been in even in my own Gen X that still have floor standing speakers is pretty minimal. Anybody who has anything up from a sound bar usually has a pair of bookshelf speakers. Maybe a sub if they're feeling really frisky. And Millennials and gen Z? Do you think they want to deal with floor standing speakers, especially those who stream most of their stuff?

Most reviewers  have small rooms hence they test small speakers. 

Some of them are bluetooth.kids don't like wires.small house if they can afford it.glad is lived in the era i did.other than covid it was great.best audio ever stream, lp, cd ,tape and you can have it all.enjoy it while you can.

Note that nearly every bookshelf speaker review says to use them on stands at least a couple of feet from the wall.