As a result of being a bit obsessed with fool.com around the turn of the millenium I invested some money into Index Funds. I still have these investments now and they have tripled in value.

My wife and I have made far more money via house sales however, due to the rise in UK house prices in recent years.

I'd agree most people I know don't directly invest in the stock market. You use to hear much more small talk about stock market investing 20 years ago than you do now.

Maybe:

Less money to invest (price of housing / cost of living etc)

Difficulty focusing on the longer time frame required for stock market investing

Big push in the UK on investing into pensions