This is not a post to bash KSR or Matt, but I'm kind of surprised that it's still around to be honest. And I wonder about the future of the longevity of the show as well.
They had a great business model and they really, really took off. That being said, they also benefitted from some good timing as well. They built their fan base core during the end of the Tubby, start of BillyG and start of Cal timeline where there was a lot of change and a lot of interest and a lot of stories to pursue. I feel like they really started getting noticed around that time...without going back to fact check.
If they hadn't launched until 2016, for example, do people think they would be even a fraction as popular as they are now? Or even still around?
If Apple hadn't put the iPhone out until 2020, would they have the same market share? I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure it is the right comparison. A lot of companies that are successful benefit from some luck and good timing.