We all have different preferences!
For me I'm mainly a deer hunter, so the ideal battery for me would be a .223 for varmints, 6MM Rem. for deer hunting, a .308 Win. also for deer hunting, and a 7MM RM for deer and larger animals.

I guess if I were mainly a varmint hunter, I'd probably go with a 22-250, and if I hunted big game a lots, I'd go with a .300 WM.

There are so many good deer choices from .270 through the .30 calibers that you couldn't really go wrong! And the 7MM-08 or the .280 would be two of the best!

I never pick a cartridge because of popularity, or ammo availability. I do consider ammo costs though, and I just don't have an itch for any of the new cartridges, not that they are bad, I just don't care for 'em!
Another one that is not on my list of "likes" is the 30-06!
Yeah, its a great choice, and if I only had one gun, the '06 would be it! But thats why they make so many different ice cream flavors!