The only reason I can think of as to why this show is still on the air is because of the trouble they had filling the spot in the first place. If you were a listener back then, the open auditions were mostly horrible.
Is bad local radio better/worse than plugging in national radio? In my opinion, yes. But the suits must not think so.
According to them, their ratings are better then what Cotman ever had, better then Miller and Deace, and better then when Tim Fischer was on the show. If true, they are doing something right.