I have had a furling mainsail since 2001 so they are not that new. I bought a new 2001 Hunter 290, and ordered the furling mail as I mostly sailed single handed. At that time I sailed about 80% of the time single handed, now it is 99.9% of the time as my wife get seasick even on a calm day. I sail much more because I can easily reef by myself, from the cockpit.