Fondant v. Buttercream ... Just askin' ...

Fondant does have a beautiful finish, but doesn't taste so great. Buttercream smoothed with a hot spatula gives the same finish and the taste & texture are so much better. Why have decorators switched to fondant? Is fondant just the latest fad? It is quicker to use (versus heating up the spatula in hot water)? Is this just my personal preference? or am I just nuts?