It's it simply being played a lot
Maybe one day there will be a mechanic built around eating counters, and we'll see upkeep and cumulative upkeep join forces once again.
Scion of the Ur-Dragon Old but gold, Scion of the Ur-Dragon remains a versatile, combo-happy commander
card game uses the term Garnet to describe a card you want in your deck, but never want to draw, and Xenagos/Wurm are certainly Magic Garnets in this deck
You can also use it to get a blocker out of the way in a pinch
Youll find commanders for strategies as diverse as Combo, Storm, and +1/+1 counters among their jiggling ranks, all of which are more than capable of bringing fun and fear to your Commander pod