Nitro,
Yeah, I don't much like the look or feel of 'em either.
I think maybe some dudes did not like the feel of the barrels on splinter forend doubles as they were used to shooting bolt guns with forends that filled the hand.
Also as Mick said maybe barrel heat has something to do with it.
In 40 deg C, just carrying a double exposed to direct sunlight can make the barrels pretty darn hot.
I remember culling 14 goats (rapid fire

) for a property owner in south west Queensland in January heat with a 360 No2 and my left hand was smokin'!
I've only ever shot one double with a beavertail and it was a Jeffery 400. It was also the very first double that I had fired. I think that was a tad over 20 years ago.