The Rise and Fall of Retractable Hardtops

In 2007 it seems every car company had a convertible with a fancy electric retractable hard top, but nowadays they seem to be abandoning them for soft tops. Why did they suddenly become popular, almost 100 years after they were invented, and why are they now disappearing, almost as quickly as they appeared?
Images of the Chrysler Thunderbolt opening are courtesy of Richard Truesdell.
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