Because it's easy to play and understand, it appeals to all levels of players. When children or new players have moved past the comforts of five card draw and are looking to hone their skills in betting, Seven Card Stud is almost always where they turn. Because Seven Card Stud has simple rules that almost anyone can follow, it's always been popular in home games, where it's often the second poker variant learned, after five card draw. Eventually, Texas Hold'em's surge in popularity would dethrone this classic poker game from its top spot, but this particular version of stud still has its followers.
For a long time, Seven Card Stud was the most popular form of poker in the US.