It seems like a lot more than 0.5-1% of people these days are requesting gluten-free dishes. Bread has been a staple food for humans for tens of thousands of years. Do you think a subset of people have always suffered from gluten sensitivity? Is the apparent "popularity" of gluten-free food just over-hype for some people?
Yes, I do think the popularity of gluten-free is over-hype by some people. This article explains it quite well:
Gluten free: Fad diets are all the rage but here's why they shouldn't be. by Ben Locwin | Genetic Literacy Project | February 1, 2017