MCH was pretty popular on HW, but it's popularity was probably heavily tied for being part of the best (and only) top raid compo back in time : WAR, DRK, AST, SCH, NIN, DRG, BRD, MCH.
It's kinda strange : bow and gun mage were heavily turned down but performances were here so played.

I however wonder how people can think EW BRD to be the worst iteration as it stricly better than ShB one :
- Loss of many bloodletter/rain due to having one charge, so full CD reset hardly happen and double proc were wasted.
- Need to apply DOT on target in case of mutlti target situation.
- Having dot to roll in not better than having a song active.
- Not being buffed by it's own party abilities.
- Being a 80s rotation job which never/poorly align with standard 2/3min party cd, and never with reopener at 6min.