come to

[Taka]

Does this usage of 'come to' sound natural?

We've come to use small tablet computers.

[Tdol]

It's OK, but the adoption of tablets was quick, so it doesn't really describe the way it happened. The iPad came out and people were queueing round the block to get them- come to suggests a slower process or possibly an unwillingness to use them at first IMO.

[Taka]

Thanks for the great explanation, tdol!

Then, does this 'come to do' sound natural?

Now, many people have come to use bicycles, instead of cars, to go to nearby places.

[5jj]

That doesn't work either, in my opinion, because it is not true in many places. You could say:

Some people have come to use ...
People are coming to use ...
In some places, people have come to use ....
In (specific place), people have come to use ...

[Taka]

So 'come to use bicycles' itself works fine, right?

[Tdol]

That doesn't work either, in my opinion, because it is not true in many places. You could say:

Some people have come to use ...
People are coming to use ...
In some places, people have come to use ....
In (specific place), people have come to use ...

It's true of Japan.

[Taka]

OK. Thank you both!