C-Sections the new black?

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the rate of Caesarean sections is at an all-time high in the U.S.

Almost 1.2 million C-sections were performed in 2004, up 27.5 percent from 2003.
The increase in C-sections has been attributed to a number of factors, including the “too posh to push” contingent of women who supposedly prefer the convenience of a scheduled operation over vaginal birth. (Is this really a trend? Who in the world would want surgery?)
Another reason behind the increase is apparently the fear of malpractice suits if something goes wrong in a vaginal delivery. Ugh. There are some hospitals that have even banned vaginal deliveries after a woman has had a C-section.
Tonya Jamois, president of the advocacy organization International Cesarean Awareness Network, says “Women are struggling to avoid unnecessary surgery, but the medical system has abandoned them. For many, they have to submit to major surgery in order to get medical care.”
Having never had a kid, I’m unfamiliar with a lot of this stuff–any parents want to share?