> AirPods became popular because they were fashionable and now they’re unfashionable.
You don't think a significant number of people use Airpods because they are good value and convenient? I know that's why I got them. The noise cancelling alone is worth it
Airpods didn't invent noise cancelling, Bose has been selling them since 2000. Price/quality has been always on the side of the wired devices. Unless you need wireless, get something wired. Airpod, and similar, are almost always less than 1 meter away from the phone.