With STR-DEX-CON being 22-20-22. This is much better than 18-20-18 of gnomes, who are more suitable for magic while svirfs for being a warrior. No other warrior race except for humans have all of STR-DEX-CON at 20 or above. I think this is partly behind svirf's success as a warrior race. So, mediocre stats with no glaring combat weaknesses. As for their popularity, it is mediocre. Personally, I liked playing a svirf axe spec in PK when I had one.