I think that the original idea was to give drama productions a more "documentary" feel. However... If you try to hand-hold a Panavision Millenium you'll end up with a hernia and a pile of broken camera on the floor. So the operators introduced artificial movement from the "tripod" which never looks right.

A lot of directors have taken this as a valid technique and ask for a documentary feel to dramas. Also some directors haven't quite grasped that: If the scene and dialogue are flat, adding a bit of wobble-cam won't spice it up.

Even worse is the director/producer who comes out with the wonderful statement "It's only a quick shot, no need to set up the legs is there? It doesn't matter if there's a slight movement." These are the same twits who moan like drains in the edit when (a) the shot doesn't cut with the rock-steady shots taken on a support and (b) are amazed that a hand-held shot at the tight end of the zoom moves a bit at the end of the five minute take.