I think that there is a decrease in interest over the last few years. I pick up range brass and there seems to be less and less 40. Less 45 too, and I blame the drop in use on the economy. I used to see about 50% 9mm, 20% 40S&W, and 30% 45ACP. But now I would bet it is about 75% 9mm, 5% 40 S&W, and 20% 45ACP.
If you have to choose a gun for utilitarian purposes, then you must go with the round that is the cheapest that will do what you want it to do. Provided you are trained and know how to use it, a 9mm will kill a criminal dead, a 500 Magnum will kill a criminal dead, so in tough economic times any additional cost above the threshold of performing its designed task people will default towards a cheaper option.
I reload so there is not a huge difference to me, but I can not get my friends to bring anything other than a 9mm or 22lr to the range. Most of them have 40's and were trying to encourage me to get one for a while. I have only shot one 40 that made me want it and that was a Steyr M40. That gun might as well shoot 40 cal lasers, and I felt like I could hit anything.
