TITLE: Consolidation: Aftermathematics of fads
QUESTION [22 upvotes]: From Frank Quinn's THE NATURE OF CONTEMPORARY CORE MATHEMATICS: "Mathematics has occasional fads, but for the most part it is a long-term solitary
activity. 
In consequence the community lacks the customs evolved in physics to deal with
the aftermathematics of fads. If mathematicians desert an area no one comes in
afterwards to clean up. 
Lack of large-scale cleanup mechanisms makes mathematical areas vulnerable
to quality control problems. There are a number of once-hot areas
that did not get cleaned up and will be hard to unravel when the developers
are not available. Funding agencies might watch for this and sponsor
physics-style review and consolidation activity when it happens."
Can you give examples of such once-hot areas in need of consolidation ?

REPLY [2 votes]: It may be unpopular to say this, but the theory of subfactors needs a consolidating account. (I don't think of this theory as a fad, but I do think it may be in danger of being difficult to unravel without some consolidating effort.)
This is a major reason why I asked the question here.
If I'm wrong about this, someone please point me to a reference!!!