1. You'd be surprised how effective some of the approaches are at a subconscious level, and
2. The mass of people don't spend a lot of time comparison shopping.
Try and find an American sitcom, minus laughtrack. You'll be amazed at how painfully unfunny most of them actually are.
I'm already aware of how painfully unfunny they are, even with the laugh track (the ones with canned laugh tracks are especially aggravating). I can count the number of good comedy shows over the past 40 years on my hand, and only one of them had a laugh track (Yes, Minister / Yes, Prime Minister).
1. You'd be surprised how effective some of the approaches are at a subconscious level, and 2. The mass of people don't spend a lot of time comparison shopping.
Try and find an American sitcom, minus laughtrack. You'll be amazed at how painfully unfunny most of them actually are.