Oftentimes?

What has happened to the word often? This useful, simple, common word has apparently gone through a metamorphosis, but I can't figure out why.

First, people started to pronounce the t. "Off-ten," they would say. Why? Where did the long-silent t go? Did people think this sounded more erudite or more sophisticated?

Now, people are saying and writing oftentimes instead of the much simpler, much preferable often. Again, why?

And now I've noticed that people are saying the totally unnecessary oftentimes with that t pronounced.

So, my question for today is this: why? Do people think that saying oftentimes (with the t) sounds better or smarter?

Here's what I maintain: if a simple word is working, don't mess with it. All those oftentimes-types out there, please put that word away: often will work just fine.