I blame this trend, as I do all things, on the Advent of Leisure time. People ahve to much time to think on these things rather than just cry their river, build a bridge and get over it. And I say that as a person who wept openly when they killed Tasselhoff Burrfoot in Dragons of Summer Flame, and every damn character that died in the Young Wizard's universe. I don't think less of myself for that empathy, but I would definitely expect someone to smack me if I let it control my life.