Maybe it's confirmation bias, but I feel like I often read concerns about kayaks being 'tippy'. I got a spection that the barges of late have drastically increased the number of people who would consider buying a kayak.... which is a good thing, I guess. It's certainly a good thing for the Plastic Barge^TM companies.

Well, yeah, they feel tippy compared to a jon boat, but in my personal experience, long, skinny kayaks aren't tippy [unless you're launching in 9-inch surf - and DAMHIK].  I don't know; maybe people feel the primary stability is tippy - and I'd agree with them - but have never experimented with secondary stability.

Eh, making barges is part of capitalism, and it doesn't keep me awake at night.  Hobie makes both fishing kayaks and barges - good on 'em, I say.  My wish is that the other kayak makers wouldn't treat me, and many others in the PNW, like we're all red-headed stepchildren.  I wonder, if we did the research, might we find kayak fishing took root here, in our area?  For me, it was the way to get out in the ocean without having to invest tens of thousands of dollars in a power boat.  Well, that plus the manliness of being out in the swells in a plastic boat... which lasted until my granddaughter thoroughly whupped me in the sea.

I can see a strong argument for longer, narrower, and lighter boats on all large bodies of water.

I agree.  Oh, if only largemouth bass lived in the ocean...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  I think it's a worthwhile conversation even if the topic started in a different direction.