Interesting topic. I'm sure the popularity is regional and local game does make a difference. I like big, moderate speed rounds because they do so well on most game. When I made the jump, I went from .300 Weatherby to .375 H&H and now .375 Ruger. I did that because of minimum legal standards in Africa and figured it would work well in the Rockies for occasional elk hunts and someday some bear hunting. I went by a lot of big bore stuff to .375 because I wanted a rifle that would do both and when we are talking about a rifle that doesn't get that much daily use, I wanted it to be a flexible as possible. I wonder how popular the .35 Whelen is in Alaska?