Centre vs Transom Sheeting

I learned how to sail transom-main boats first, and I had a whizz around in a mate's Lark with him on Wednesday. It's the first real time I've sailed a centre main (the actual first time was before I'd ever been told about the different sheeting options and was trying to hold the tiller like a frying pan as I'd been taught - hilarity ensued) and I honestly couldn't see the point. Being on a river gave me lot of practice tacking, but I eventually resigned myself to crew as I was having to tack again before I could switch hands. I liked the way I could see where I was going (though the river was practically empty anyway) but having to do a Houndini routine with my hands behind my back put me off.

I know Topper did the study that found transom-mains were marginally better, but why are most new boats nowadays centre-main? It just removes space in the boat. What do you guys prefer?