Well, if it is a fad, it got started back in the day of the vest pocket .25 autos. Prior to that, it was the stack barrel Remington deringers.
I don't think any of them were ever really intended to be primary guns, but folks get funny ideas about firearms.
I know the practice has been around since Christ was a Cadet. And i think you're absolutely correct about the "secondary" role.
But it seems everuwhere I turn today i see people saying. "Just load it, and slip in your jeans pocket, you won't even know it's there".
Just seems like there is so much wrong with that statement