While the Drizzt thing helps their popularity, I think their abilities are what make them so popular. They can see heat instead of just light, they are innately skilled with weapons, and innately gifted with magic. The Drizzt thing probably makes up for most of their societal problems when people are deciding to play them. You know, just the minor problems, like your own mother or sister might sign away your soul to Lloth (turning you into a Drider), without thinking twice, for some very minor, trival benefit.

Joseph, Joseph, Joseph... I'm not buying it. :)

Regular elves have all the same (in-game) abilities as Drow except for levitation. Drow weaponry & armor, while nifty, deteriorate rapidly in sunlight and becomes useless.

Drizzt was/is considered an abberration in their society, not to mention he's lost all (or most of) his Drow Powers after years of living on the surface. So basically he's just a blackskinned elf at this point.

Driders rule though. I'd rather play a Drider Sorceror than a Drow any day.

I think it's because elves are always portrayed as these feminine, fair-skinned slices of white bread.

Drow put some black soul and coolness into the game. Can you dig?

-- or --

Many (or is that most) people who play D&D have hygiene issues, acne, eczema, general deformations, etc...maybe playing a race that likes to hide underground out of sight seems more natural to them.

Never understood the Drow fascination either. Gnome illusionist/thief... er, wizard/rogue ftw!