Measurements correlate well to sound quality and listener preference. This is well established. So when a speaker has abysmal measurements, it follows that sound quality will be compromised as well. It has nothing to do with "jumping on a bandwagon".
There have been countless threads on AVS forums over the years where owners of 2 way MTM center channels complain about dialogue intelligibility, and their problems are solved when they switch to a good 3 way center. The terrible off axis response of most 2 way MTM center channels reduces sound quality, especially through the vocal range, compared to a more optimal design. Do you have a 2 way center that you are happy with? If so, that's ok. Some folks are really happy with TV speakers, some love soundbars, some are content with 2 way MTM centers, and some prefer a more optimal solution that a 3 way center offers when making the compromise of a horizontal center channel.
Again, its really easy to correlate measurements, generally, to sound quality. If frequency response is down 5-10 dB when moving a little off axis, your going to hear that, a lot. You don't have to go out and buy a bad speaker and listen to it when measurements show you its bad. Again, if thats your preferred method, that's ok too. But I personally am glad to have the objective data that prevents me from wasting time and money on poorly designed and/or poor sound quality products. By the same token, I'm glad to have the objective data available on products that perform well. It led me to the 3 way center channel I currently use, and only cost me $149.