The new generation of gear makes the sport pretty safe so folks need new ways to hang their balls over the crocodile pit.
In the old days it was just surviving the opening of a Starlite or a Paradactyl or clawing your way out of the mess when a 16 way funneled. Lot more arty solo stuff going on these days so jumpers are looking at ways to make it more exciting.
Also a bit of a fashion show these days. Back in the days parachutes were round, the earth was flat and dinosaurs roamed free, it was sweaty smelly jump suits that were never washed in order to preserve the stiffness and neck snapping 16mm cameras strapped to your helmet that required a hand under the chin to hold your head up to prevent injury when deploying the main.