for some reason they thought why sell those when they could sell the .260rem, 7mm-08 etc...?

The .25-06 and .257wby are quite popular in my view, and honestly poor BC's on the .257's lend me to think int he future, more and more guys are gonna being going to the .243's, 6.5mm, 7mm

I think the new big game light kicker is the 7mm-08 , maybe the .243win can join that list too. the 6.5-284 may continue to grow, that offers some speed and ummph without being a true magnum.

The problem I see is everyone wants everything, light kicking, fast/flat shooting, big bullets, and you have to give into 1 or 2 areas to get more of the other... oh and in a lightweight package probably too. whether thats a 7.5lb rifle instead of a 9lb, or if thats a 5lb sheep rifle over a 7.5lb deer rifle...

Although honestly most of us will probably keep 95% of our shots under 300yds, and probably 99% under 400yds, and probably 75% of those would be under 150/200yds, so some of these smaller light kickers as long as you know where your bullet will be at 400yds, can still get the job done well.