My 1.5cents worth...
There's most likely a technological component with respect to the "apparent increase in the number of comets"... (i.e. probably no increase at all).
Why do I think so? ... Take a look at the
discovery rate of Asteroids... (
Old Version) with the advent of better and better equipment, satellites, telescopes, cameras, etc... the number of asteroids have increased tremendously. BTW: Space is "empty"?!??
and take a good look around our neighborhood!
For comets, the discover rate is on the rise, from both amateurs and professionals as bigger, better telescopes with bigger, better cameras take their place in the world looking skyward. The key reason why we know more about them, internet, social media and the print and online media's appetite to grab any news, regardless of its worth...
OIC!