I'm with those who say it's the high voice of the mandolin and lack of sustain. You won't find arrangements as most pop music now has latched on to that big "wall of sound" where there's no space for quiet instruments. Every second is filled with synths, drums, percussion, vocals, guitars, etc. Ergo, why write arrangements for them. There's plenty of mandolin/octave work in the newer alt/folk scene, as with Sarah Jarosz and crew. It's just not "pop" yet... or maybe ever.
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