I think popularity in the UK is based entirely on availability.
The most active retailers, who can afford to lay some stock in, or to use the sucesses in America to enhance their products are the ones who shift bows. Add to that the 'club' thing, plus the very limited availability of manufacturers in the UK and you have it.
Mathews, Bowtech and
Hoyt seem to rule over here, that is almost all the compounds I see. I had people falling over themselves to look at my CSS yesterday, because it was something different. Other clubs will have a different couple of popular makes, Merlin, Martin, maybe even Oneida.....or maybe not (bit of an aquired taste). Even the Bladerunner is appearing, and the jury is still out in America over that one.
There are a huge number of really good bows available, I doubt there is a true 'puppy' amongst them, R&D simply costs too much, and so what
compound someone shoots is really just personal taste.
Now, if I can just sneak an Orange
PSE Mojo in the house without the missus spotting it...........