Well if there was ever any doubt that the Mini is a popular main stream class all you have to do is take a look at the entry list information that was publiched recently.  Competitors apply for each race and then have to rank which races they would prefer to sail. 

Here are a few of the numbers:

Mini-Pavois : 90 files received on D Day for 60 places
Pornichet Sélect 6,50 : 112 files received on D Day for 70 places
Demi-Clé : 84 files received on D Day for 60 places
Trophée Marie-Agnès Péron : 109 files received on D Day for 80 places
Mini-Fastnet : 144 files received on D Day for 100 places
Open Sail Simrad B&G : 97 files received on D Day for 70 places
Transgascogne : 148 files received on D Day for 75 places

Source Classe Mini

Almost all of the races are over subscribed as the number of miles required to get into the MT are rising quickly.  For the 2007 edition of the race to make the top 72 took 3100nm compared to 1300nm for the last race.  Obviously it requires a huge commitment to get these miles in.