Well, that makes as much sense as anything else I've heard
An anonymous Japanese poster on 2ch, offering his explanation as to what draws Westerners to some Japanese series: "I think it's the gaps -- the contrasts. They like characters who are tough and resilient despite their appearances, the kind of characters that at first sight you would ordinarily think were too drunk, too old, too young, or too cute to be really 'strong'. I guess it seems cooler to them that way."