For me it has a lot to do with where you boat, at LOTO we typically go from dock to dock to dock most weekends with the occasional cove for a few hours. Easy to do on a performance I/O boat and all my friends also have a boat so I never need to put more than 4 people in my boat, or load it down with coolers/food/ect.
When we go down to the Keys to a buddies house there is usually 10-14 of us on a 39Nor-Tech CC, we can fit everyone, plus food, drinks(lots of them), ect for a full day of hitting the sandbars, and go over 100 miles a day comfortably. Wouldn't be possible with a performance type boat.
I wouldn't want a CC at LOTO, and I wouldn't want my performance boat in the keys.

I think it all comes down to versatility. I used to get ticked when someone would refer to my performance boats (had a cat and several v-hulls) as being "single purpose boats". Then I got my current boat - a Concept center console. Do I miss going fast? Do I miss having a true performance boat? Yes to both, but I have had more fun on my Concept in the past several years than I did on my prior performance boats. More user friendly for going to dinner at night by water. Less maintenance issues. Easier on gas. As with anything there are tradeoffs. I guess it all depends on where you live, what you like doing and how you like doing it. As many have said above - no right or wrong answer here. As I found out, sometimes you don't know what your missing if you have experienced it.

The same reasons there are more popular segments in the automotive industry like the boom of pick-up trucks, crossovers, and suvs. Are muscle cars and sport cars dead? No, but not being produced in the % of total manufactured numbers as in years past. The majority of todays boaters look for utility and right now C.C.s, toons, and wake boats fit that bill.

besides the fact you can gather like 10 or more people in them - Well for starters this is the main reason why for us.

Cabin are much bigger, if you dont sleep in there it offers more storage - Why would I want more storage that I don't use when the CC has more than enough storage for what I do use? Also we had the Sonic for a little over 3 years....never even spent more than 1hr in the cabin unless we where cleaning it. people don't sleep in boats a lot here in FL.

When it is too hot in the sun you can always hide yourself a bit. Same if it starts raining, everyone else besides the driver can hide and stay dry - going to go ahead and assume you have not got to ride in a lot of the newer CC's. With the new T-tops out there well more than just the driver can get under the top and out of the rain or sun. Unless you are clown caring your cabin you are not fitting more people down below than you are under a T-top.

Same on a windy day, or when water splashes from the wind - people are not riding in the cabin for the most part while a Closed Bow is out running in the water, not a comfy ride for anyone. The wind is no better or worse IMO then a typical close bow boat and the same goes with getting wet while running. An 8' or 9' beam is just that be it closed bow or open, you are going to get just as wet in either style given the same beam for the most part.

Lastly - as was already pointed out where you boat makes a HUGE difference. If I live up north on Say LOTO then there is a chance I would do a close bow I/O but down here, boating for 8 hrs or more a day and sand bar hopping, the CC style is well more fitting to our needs.

We recently moved to the LOTO area and I still can't decide what to get. I always wanted a V, then we moved here and I am starting to like these outboard cats....then I think about what I am using it for and CCs seem to tick the most boxes.

Maybe one of each??

Here's my comparison and .02.

Previous boat 30 Superboat w/525efi
Current boat 30 Concept CC w/300 Verado(s)

Passengers: 4 or 5 in the Super was fine while riding. Once you stop, it's a cluster f***. Concept 6-8 no problem, moving or stopped. Usually boat with wife and kids, so bringing anybody else on the Super was out.
Speed: Super = High 70's, Concept = low 70's, both boats accelerate pretty hard.
Ride: no comparison, but c'mon the Super was a race boat with nice seats. I don't like to "fly" the Concept, passengers are seated, but not as secure.
Cabin: Super was WAY bigger, at the expense of cockpit space. I don't really use my cabins anyway.
Fuel: negligable

Pushing the Super in rough water is really the only thing I miss about it.

Other things I like about the Concept
Bimini top
Walk thru transom, getting in and out of the boat without stepping on the seats.
I can remove almost all the cushions except for the helm and back seats and leave them home.
I can hear the stereo when I am riding.
Everybody on the boat can move around.
I can trim the motors way up when the water is low.
Working on the motors is easier.

I feel there is a huge hole in the market right now for a true high performance cruiser crossover, whatever you want to call it. I love center consoles for the raft up, hang out scene. I love my ZRC for poker runs. You can use either boat for both but you get hammered on aCC in poker run ( or any hard/difficult running as a passenger and there is no good hangout platform on my ZRC. Donzi & Nor-Tech have started to try something with the the 41GT and Monte Carlos (and they may evolve into something) while F.B. created (in my opinion) the perfect large OB cruiser with their 48 Fountain conversions. If you could build a fun to drive, room for a big group with wind protection, comfortable seating and a useable cabin, you will have a winner. I believe it could be easily done and should be done. Take a 40-42' fast CC hull and blend it with Formula SS.... wish I had the money and means to build it myself!

+1. They are more confortable for hanging out with family and/or guest. Easier to work on cause I'm not trying to work inside the bilge. More storage space cause your not having to store motors. I prefer a center console with more of a go-fast cabin like a 33 oceanhawk so I agree with original poster on cabin, but you can have it both ways. Parts will likely be cheaper on stock outboards. Fuel is much cheaper.

You spend most of the day hanging out on the boat with maybe 3-4 cruises mixed in. It's nice to be able to invite friends. I'm usually boating with family, kids want to bring a friend, I'd like to bring a friend......which usually means his family too, pretty soon I'm up to 10 people. Don't get me wrong I like having a boat to myself as well, but sometimes yeah it's nice to be able to invite friends.

Comments on LOTO/closed bow IO are interesting. 5 years ago, as CCs were selling strong in FL, you might pass a couple of them a day at LOTO. How things change, now you see CCs all the time. You still see quite a few gorgeous muscle boats at LOTO, but as years pass, you see less and they are more prevalent on the big event weekends, especially the shootout. As for dock/bar/restaurant hopping which is very popular at LOTO, or tying up coving out, I've found getting in and out of the docks, tying up, etc is much easier in the CC than it was in my previous gofast boats. Then again, I'm just one of those older peeps that finally got to the point that I want to spend most of my time enjoying the boat and simplify maintenance. It's still always fun going down the main channel and getting your doors blown off by the sweet sound of the muscle boats though.

I agree, seems a lot on here are talking about working in the bilge with Modified high horse power BBC, compared to stock outboards. Take the power out and talk about the style.

I get it if you want to take a bunch of people with you then a open bow, CC (NON fish ones), or pontoon will fit much better, for us and the people we boat with that just isn't how we boat. Most everyone has a boat so at the most it will be one other couple. But that is us and as others said, it all depends on how you boat.

Seems to me DONZI is trying more of a crossover styles, like Tom said with the 41GT V hull and now a less focused Cat. It will be interesting to see what works.