Well, I can't speak for others but, here is why I sold my p2.
I like to swap things up every now and then and the r-44 really caught my eye. I wanted to go back to 4 channels so it was an easy swap. Had a buddy on this board who wanted a new 2 channel rig so didn't even have to post it for sale. Both cost about the same so the price difference was negligible.
FWIW, the p2 is a rock solid, very nice 2 channel rig. I would buy it again over any other 2 channel recorder within the sub 2k price range. And at under 1k, is a bargain.