On point analysis or still lingering butthurt....

[Rockinkuwait]

I get what you are saying, but there were a lot of factors that all came together:

1) previous championship
2) warm weather
3) big market
4) Wade was an elite player at the time
5) Wade, Bosh and LeBron were friends
6) Pat Riley

All of these things played a roll and none of these details were insignificant. The title that Miami won where even Shaq admitted that the Heat were Wade's team had much to do with Wade's legacy and status among his peers. I do think it mattered, at least some.

Bolded the ones I think that mattered. Miami's not a big media market for the NBA.