It is interesting to see the public perception of our trade. Some people have been aware of it since year dot, others are only just now becoming aware of the benefits our window films can give them. Looking at the costs of incorporating all the benefits into glass, window film is far more economical than anything else.
We install our products on old houses with old glass as well as on brand new double glazed homes or businesses. There is no wrong time or age to have this done.
In new homes, with clear double glazing, the need for tinting becomes evident the moment the sun is heating up the rooms. Although the glass industry still gives us a hard time, by suggesting that any film applied will invalidate their warranties, we have never had a claim in all the time we have been in business. Reality is, a well constructed system in conjunction with the right film will not fail. Care has to be taken in the choice of film, and a good knowledge of glass types is required to get it right. 
So, is tinting glass still popular? You bet! More than ever!

We come across a product called UV-XXXX. It is a coating that blocks UV, nothing else. It is sold to reduce fading. Does it work? Well, anything is better than nothing. But since fading is a combination of UV, heat, light and some other factors to a lesser degree, this kind of product is very limited in effectiveness.
Over time, this coating becomes almost opaque and real ugly to look through.
The owner of this unit has tried to remove it, as seen in the bottom left corner. It was taking forever!
We got called and in less than one hour, 3 large windows were back to normal glass to look through!

    This is a picture of window film with "banding".
The film is becoming streaky and is visible more at certain time of the year, usually in winter. This particular window film was installed around 16 years ago, so is well past its expected life time.

We removed all the film and adhesive and tinted it again with new film, without damaging the glass.

There is a phenomenon called "Refraction". It becomes evident when the sun is at a low angle and there is a dark background, when looking out. The moment the sun is higher in the sky, or no sun, the glass is clear to see through.I have seen it on clear glass and tinted glass. 

If you are in need of privacy, but don't want to lose too much light, Sky is the film to consider seriously. Even in corner situations, where windows are on two sides, you get very good privacy.
Although somewhat reflective, it is not a mirror and blends in nicely in most places.  Just today I returned to a place where we applied some Sky. The lady did not tell her husband and it took him a few months, until he realised it was there. Typical male, we're all the same!

Window film is a complex product that has evolved over the last 40 years or so.
Think back to the early days (if you're old enough). All you got was a silver film. Adhesive had to be sprayed on, luckily before my time too.
Then there was the dyed polyester. Great to look at, but turning purple within a short time.... and still sold today at places like Repco and Supercheap as well as Trade Me and of course the cheap car tinting places.
Fortunately, some of us have moved on from this and offer genuine performance films.
Today's window film uses the latest technology and consequently is more costly to produce.
So why on earth are some people still going with the cheapest price??????
As the saying goes: "You get what you pay for"
Granted, just because one price is higher than another, does not guarantee a superior product. Therefore, ask questions.