Perhaps today that is the case since mosfet transistors are much
cheaper now than say 10-20 years ago. Plus, more people are actually
figuring out how to make them, designing one 20+ years ago was
considered a black art. hehe Most of those bipolar switchers weren't
that good, but they worked..

Still, most if not all home audio amplifiers are not going with
this method, not sure exactly why. I haven't seen any trend
toward switchers in home audio.

If I was designing a switcher vs. traditional methods the first thing
that comes to mind is this.

50/60hz toroidal transformers are much cheaper now, 10-15 years
ago getting one stock off the shelf was impossible that met
your requirements. Getting it custom made cost alot of money.
Last year I was researching this and more companies offer these
toroidals with voltage specifications tailored for amplifier use
standard in their catalogs, no need for custom ones anymore = much
cheaper. I think I priced a beefy one at $100-$150 each.
If I use one of these, I have to sacrifice real estate, it's
a big core.

What if I convert to a switcher that is able to run 1000W ?
I need more heatsink area to accomodate the mosfets, added cost.
I need mosfets, added cost. I need a smaller toroidal core.
Since switchers are "fly by design", can't really find a toroidal
"off the shelf" that meets my voltage, current and frequency
requirements? I can probably alter my design and work around
with given specs.

For a switcher I don't need as many large capacitors

*BUT*

you know how audiophiles are, they want a bank of 60kuf-120kuf
per rail or they are not happy. They want the extra energy
storage for transients and what not. It would be hard to
convince these people that they don't need as much. heheh

The last thing that comes to mind is reliability. That shouldn't
be a problem, but having a bank of switching mosfets is just
another failure mechanism, one shorts out and whole bank can be blown
which means that the amplifiers is coming back for repair - heheh
It's hard to punish a 50hz/60hz transformer and wall outlet
is a pretty reliable source of frequency.

So what do I do as an amplifier designer?
Use the traditional method or make a switcher?

What type of poison do I want to drink ?

hehehe

Car audio folks had no choice - hehehe