Haha, well first off. I can overplay all day on a small kit
I have 4 kits, with one bing 1 up one down. I have also owned 10 piece kits in my life, but am a 2 or 3 tom guy now, ( my masters has 5, but I never take them all to a gig)
Reasons 1 up 1 down is popular.
- Transportation, easy to fit in cars, vans, and haul up and down stairs.
- Price, less drums = less money, but I do like the post about hidden increase by manufacturers. You sell one less drum, but the price is only slightly less
-Easier for sound guys- less mics. less mixing, less phasing, less bleed.
- Setup- I love my ride placement on 1 up 1 down.
I actualy find I became much better switching to one up one down. It teaches you to create fills that can't just flow down the toms, It's easy to do annoying 16th notes in a circle with 2 up one down. The less drums I have the more creative I get. Plus when I record myself, less mics is a treat.
It really shows holes in drummers while during gear sharing when they see a 1 up 1 down kit and start to sweat knowing they can't do their fills at a gig lol. I see it often. I don't care if you give me a 4 piece or 8 piece kit to be honest at a gig. I can make it work.
As far as trending, It's not the 80's anymore, so giant kits are kinda out these days.