The only reason a kipa is perceived by some as being used to identify with a group, is because that’s why the kipa sruga was invented. Prior to it’s introduction not that many decades ago, a yarmulka wasn’t popularly thought of as being a group identifier. As you pointed out, those wearing it today either switched to it or their (grand)father did so from what he was wearing previously.
So the question, as you said was food for thought, was why the switcheroo.