No doubt there would be more converts if everyone had the access to the wood, and the older generation I hung around with growing up.No GD wonder you are a diehard fan of horizontal grain! Were we all to be able to experience first class riven wood (and proper air-curing of it) there might be many more converts.
I grew up swinging homemade horizontal grained handles, and I'm very confident doing so. But, I also now understand where others come from. It took the discussion on this forum for me to understand that there is a YUGE difference in a handle homemade from a stave, verses most store bought handles.