Many alpine schools now have shoe spikes on their standard equipment list for long-distance hikes and Alpine crossings, or provide them before the hike begins. The low weight and increased safety are strong arguments, especially when hiking in the mountains, where you are in larger groups and the mountain guides have to rely on the participants' surefootedness.
Especially on long-distance hikes, groups are often tempted to take higher risks because they want to reach the next hut and are more willing to accept difficult conditions than on day trips.