The popularity of things is often a sign of how strongly starved people are for anything like that thing rather than the thing itself being perfect.
Example:
Porn is popular because people are starving for intimacy.
Video games are popular because people are starving for friendship and community.
TV series are popular because people are starving for something exciting happening in their lives.
Do you have any other examples?
Kudos to made_in_cosmosd for the idea.