I was going to reply about this but you also brought it up briefly. That is, the effect of psychology on a media. As any technology gets to the point where it matures and is thoroughly understood (at least from a technical POV), as well as is widely used, it ceases to be fun and interesting and "new" to many.
It becomes a commodity. A good example is computers. In the old days, computers were DIY affairs and the haven of scientists, geeks, and technological types looking to push the limits and have fun. But as they got better and better, about 4-5 years ago they suddenly became appliances. Very complex, very maintainance-intensive appliances. It wasn't fun, it wasn't easy - it was plainly put, a chore.
This is an intolerable state for the human mind - it honestly hates grinding and thinking just to get stuff done. Simplicity and functionality become more and more the goal, so there's a swing back to simpler methods. You see this in cooking - from the stupidly fancy cookbooks and shows of the 90s to a shift back to simpler food. You see it in the recent interest in low-impact and natural housing. You saw it in watches - digital was the rage in the 80s and 90s and now it's swung back. You see it even in technology itself. It's why the Wii sells so well.
DSLRs amaze me but at the same time I still opt for the simplicity of my old Rollei. 4-5 things to remember, all analog and "fuzzy logic" type controls. Dials to grasp, knobs to nudge... it's simple and intuitive. So then you concentrate on the shot alone, or close to it.
And when you get it back, it's OK or it's great - you judge and live with it. No tweaking for hours to get it to look "right" - You take your chances, learn to trust yourself, and move on. The time that people now spend at their computers is amazing, really.
Edit - that said, I also love my DSLR, but most of the time I'm just not in the mood to deal with it. Though, it does work fantastic for trips and family photos and the like. Point - shoot - done.