Rooting phones is like overclocking PC's.
Look how long thats been around and ppl that overclock PC's is still a small percentage to the average user, and thats with overclocking software and BIOS's getting easier each year.
It remains popular because its a good phone out the box, with good software, and advertising.
I posted something similar in another forum, look at the Droid X1 forum section.
Compare that to Fascinate section. Rooting, complete custom ROMs dont really increase or decrease activity in those sections. Even compared to the Incredible section, the Droid X1 section is still bigger. And the Droid X1 's bootloader is locked tighter than those 2.
Then look at the Nexus 1 and Nexus S. Two phones consider straight up dev phones...and look at sales and popularity of those phones for the general public.
One difference between those phones and the Droid 1? Advertising.
And going by our own personal experiences, I know 3 ppl with Android phones, and they dont know the first thing about rooting or if they know dont care about it. One person is an IT type person so they may know but dont care.
Rooting, custom ROMs is nice, but it doesnt make or break a phone as far as sales and popularity.
Now, I hope theres gonna be pre orders for the Bionic in July. I dont think I can get this sight unseen like I did with the Droid X1.