Not sure if the "trend" is coming or going... but I didn't really think much of it, how mad to intentionally beat up a perfectly good new bass, and yes, just as daft as wearing someone's old clothes or taking an angle grinder to one's jeans (preferably without leg in). Bonkers.
However, as a long-time P bass player (owned my '61 fiesta red for 40 years), I fancied a Jazz, and after playing lots of new Fenders, ended up with a used (who cares?!) '62 RI in, yes, fiesta red. And all those things people are saying are in play here - no worries about dinging it, finish feels like the 61, same colour (no-one in the band noticed I'd switched, t*ssers), except it's got a much slimmer neck and more to fiddle with. Oh, and it's in "worse" nick than my P! Probably completely psychological, but I'm enjoying it. Might check out a new Sandberg one of these days, since Jazzes seem like a generally Good Thing.