I finally bought myself a NIB M-57 for my 50th birthday 8 years ago. I now have 8 of them and likely more to come as I find them. I too feel they have less felt recoil than a .44 mag although I mainly download both rounds for my plinking.
I've since sold/traded 3 .44s as the .41 does all I need from target shooting, deer hunting to a sometime conceal carry weapon.

I do think they are more popular today as I see less and with higher prices now. It used to be I could find them at better prices as they were an unpopular caliber here.
I saw a NIB M-57 the other day for $1250. They never commanded prices like that just a couple years ago.