The recumbent market is, depending on who's giving the estimates, around 3-5% of the overall bike market. Small, but not "vanishingly" small. I don't deliberately steer people to bents, I merely point them out as possibilities where applicable.

The chain tube on my bike is mostly there to prevent chain slap from destroying the paint on my fork. Helicopter tape could do the same thing; but I don't consider that a good long-term solution. I can, and have, run the chain in the 'dropped' position; but this way is more practical for everyday riding.