science

Exactly, scientists have been saying this forever but evil oversized bipedal crocs sell.

It honestly feels like a marketing issue more than anything. A non-zero amount of people think modern dinosaurs are "boring" because they don't look like Jurassic Park.

Compared to big fluffy unicorn pigeons that eat each other.

Like people would happily be swooped by a magpie if given the chance.

A knee-high raptor who will happily leap up and bite chunks off of larger prey whilst they're still alive and kicking seems like it would retain much of the terror.