I don't know much about the technical side of pipemaking, so take this with a grain of salt, but... going by your comments (and using a little common sense), the poker is easier/quicker to make and hard(er) to f@!# up for newbie pipemakers, who can then sell it at a price point just above (or equal to, in some cases) factory pipes. So that's the appeal from the pipemaker's perspective.
From the buyer's perspective, I guess it's having a handmade pipe for a relatively low price, for those who either can't or have a hard time justifying the price that some of the more established artists (rightfully, IMO, but that's a whole other thread...) charge.
BUT. I totally agree with you. This chubby poker stuff is something I've observed over the past few years, and it's gotten to the point where it's totally destroyed any appeal pokers might have for me (although MLC's Stanwell is extremely elegant, something that can't be said about many pokers these days). I guess if it keeps the hobby growing and changing, as georged notes, and some guys get to have pipes that they like at a price they're willing to pay, than I can just choose to ignore it, but again, as georged says, I do feel like some parties involved know better and must be aware they're "taking advantage" of others who don't know better.
At any rate, I can't tell any of those makers apart, and as many have said, no one will remember them in even five years' time, when their pipes will be bundled five to a lot like Magic Inches or the like, and no one will want them because tastes will have changed once again and moved on to something else.