I think that part of it is a certain breed that love the HP. It is primarily the epitomy of a utilitarian tool. This pistol is not as complicated as one might believe. I've owned plenty of both 1911s and HPs. What I discovered it what I think turns a lot of people off. I am by nature a tinkerer. If it can be screwed with, I'll probably do it just to do it. I started out with the tinkerer's wet dream, the 1911. Let's face it, when it comes to something to mess around with, the 1911 is just begging for it.(Side note: Though not all can be attributed to me, it is also why there are so many lemon 1911s at gunshows.) I think this started long ago due to military surplus 1911s being primarily what people could get. They had to tinker to get them to shoot. It then segwayed into a rite of passage as a shooter to certain types.(You're just not a pistolero unless you shoot custom 1911s)
The P35 HiPower on the other hand, just doesn't need a lot of tinkering. Browning knew what he wanted from the 1911 design and what needed to be changed. He applied this and then promptly died. The little Belgian fellow that followed up on the project also seemed to know a lot about design. The new lockup system got rid of the link and bushing and delivered exceptional accuracy out of the box. The grip shape pointed like nothing else made to that point in history. (excepting maybe the Colt Peacemaker). And let's not forget the trigger......OK, maybe mentioning the trigger is not the best attribute. It pretty much sucks due to the stupid mag disconnect. (Col. Cooper wrote an amusing anticdote one time about an SAS Leftenant who met his demise due to a HP mag safety and poor tactical knowledge of his weapon.)
In all my rambling, I think I'm trying to say that a lot of shooters just don't give the HP it's due respect. The caliber, though the most used in history, doesn't get respect from American bigger is better mentality. It did until the Crime Bill. (How many of you have owned Wonder Nines? Be honest.) After that, the American market told us that what we really need to do is make a bigger hole. (I'm still buying that line. I have a .40HP coming soon.) It doesn't need the tinkering attention that 1911s need. Parts are harder to find and thus more expensive, and it is n't made of the latest polymer with bells and whistles. It is a straight up working tool. Designed to deliver it's payload RELIABLY and accurately, and it does it.
Well, that's my humble(well kind of anyway) opinion.
If you read all of this, your eyes should be soor by now. Get outside and shoot something.
Happy Shooting