Ihhh 
"[@Dale":](/1135726#comment_4947640
)
I think that's your nostalgia talking. The early episodes weren't that good, and they had a whole slew of inconsistencies and awkwardness. At the time of release, there were very few good cartoons, so even decent shows would gain a large following. I suspect that if season 1 had been released today, there would be no bronies, or at the very least, the fandom would be much, MUCH smaller. And to say the show had any "vision of it's niche" is very ignorant, seeing as the show only had little girls and their parents in mind and the fanbase was merely an accident.
<<<<<
I think that's your nostalgia talking. The early episodes weren't that good, and they had a whole slew of inconsistencies and awkwardness. At the time of release, there were very few good cartoons, so even decent shows would gain a large following. I suspect that if season 1 had been released today, there would be no bronies, or at the very least, the fandom would be much, MUCH smaller. And to say the show had any "vision of it's niche" is very ignorant, seeing as the show only had little girls and their parents in mind and the fanbase was merely an accident.