If pruning is more functional and the default, more people will run nodes. Right now, a huge part of my SSD is dedicated to the blockchain. Soon, I won't have the space for the entire thing. Sure, I could move it over to the HD, but the point is the system discourages running a full node.
I ran out a few weeks ago. I now keep the chain on a NAS but it only takes a tiny problem an you are back to a week re-indexing or re-downloading. I now only turn it on every few days just to catch up and I suspect many are doing something similar.