To add on to the reasons mentioned by others (Hanabi is simpler, purely cooperative, etc), I'll point out that Hanabi is fairly popular with young CS types, especially the ones interested in ML and AI, much more so than Bridge which is understandably seen as old fashioned. My source for this statement being that I'm friends with a lot of such people and was roommates with someone who now works for Deep Mind, and have learned first hand and shared in the generalized Hanabi obsession. Perhaps it's just my localized experience and I'm exaggerating the popularity of the game. But I think it's telling that I wasn't the least big surprised when I saw this game mentioned as the next candidate Deep Mind would tackle.
Does it much matter that the topic being studied is one you have experience with and a passion for? Perhaps more than we might think.
Does it much matter that the topic being studied is one you have experience with and a passion for? Perhaps more than we might think.