Well I think it's mostly always been used as a stepping stone for Heavyweight, alot of the best Cruiserweights have always moved up to Heavyweight. Because that's where the money and big fights are.
Amongst real fans It get's love. I believe Cruiser recently during Usyk's rampage was among the best the division has been, right?
It is not a division that never took off. It is more a division that has blown hot and cold. Nothing wrong with it right now IMHO.
What was wrong with having just Light Heavyweight and then Heavyweight? you can either go up a weight or go down that's how it use to be.
Scrap the name. I think the cruiserweight division has more potential if it were called “heavyweight” as it is in Amateur boxing. Then the higher division of Super-heavyweight fighters can finally be officially be christened The Super-heavyweight division.
A new division of giants came along. Previously giants were unable to dominate until modern advances allowed them to function more effectively.