My guess would be price. Shoppers probably got more sensitive to the price of a keyboard as the price of computers dropped, and approximately none of them were choosing between two computer-bundles at the store with any regard for keyboard quality.
Most people and companies just use the keyboard that shipped with the computer. I don't think noise is as much of an issue as people make it out be.
Marketing made up this story about linear switches being for gamers. So now every mechanical keyboard needs to make unnecessary noise and offer extra resistance for harder bottom out or you're not a serious typist.
But that's not inherent to the keyboard. Linear switches are not any louder than cheapo office high-profile membrane.
I'm not a gamer these days, but from what I've seen, the gamers like a different type of keyswitch than regular typists. Normal typists like a clicky keyswitch where it clicks with very little travel, and has plenty of travel after this to avoid bottoming out. (so, Cherry blue)
Gamers want mechanical keyswitches with no click at all. (Cherry brown I think)
This is the marketing mythos I was talking about. The best typist keyboard is regular linear switch. Typing without bottom out is impossible. Clicking is just audio. Of course most mechanisms of producing clicking mean some degree of tactility (added resistance), but any tactility bump you have to overcome means you come out on the other side with more force which means harder bottom out. The way to reduce bottom out force is to not have any resistance, which is what linear switch is.
The most popular type of switch is brown because it's essentially a linear switch that is not marketed towards gamers. It's just sad.
Cherry browns are more like an average mechanical switch (and not in a bad way - they're a good middle ground if you use your keyboard for different things). Gaming oriented keyboards would use different ones.
I find the resistance to be a hindrance when typing. Fastest typing speed and comfort for me is my thinkpad keyboard which uses scissor switches with a very low profile - you need less effort per keystroke!
Right, that's why I recommend linear switches. But they're marketed as a gaming switch and they don't deserve this harmful reputation. They're simply the only non-stupid type of switch.
Low profile scissors are a compromise. They are tactile but it's for once functional as it compensates for the obvious lack of travel. The result is a mediocre but still above average experience. You can type fast on them but with more fatigue than high-profile linear.
Marketers want you to believe there's at least three different distinct switch types for different purposes because they want to sell you the same keyboard twice or thrice. But in reality there's linear and stupid. And some of them make unnecessary noise. Some of them make really sweet nostalgia noises like Alps switches but it's still a worse typing experience.
Both noise and resistance is something where mechanical keyboards can provide all desired options with the right switch choice. Gaming-oriented mechanical keyboards tend to have particularly low activation forces.
There really isn't any reason not to choose one except for price - and that's a fair consideration if you're fine with rubber domes or other alternatives.
