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I can't speak for others but I have a theory that the reason this show is so popular because these 'people' live by a very strict code of honor which is missing in everyday life and when it is broken, there is swift justice, which is something else that is missing.

It's said that there's such a code in "The Godfather," and you can see it there, at least in the first movie of the series. Whether it's still there in "The Sopranos" is harder to say. Sure, Tony couldn't have his crew find out that he was in therapy and everybody still hates a rat, but I wonder if he and the others have broken an awful lot of the code of honor. You could view a lot of the episodes as "morality plays" in which characters struggle not with the outside society's strictures about what's right and wrong, but with the code of the mafia and their own inclinations, but a lot of the series seems to be saying that Vito Corleone's world, real or legendary, is gone.

I understand your point the Mafia has indeed changed from the day's of the Godfather series. In those days they didn't have the 'Witness Protection Program', which didn't allow the members any way out except by death.

The WPP has weaken the code and has splintered the strong families into, more or less, fiefdoms but the oath of omerta still has to be observed and followed and the leaders of these 'fiefdoms' have to be a whole lot smarter and aware of the members weaknesses.

The biggest mistake the heads of these families make is notoriety and they revel in their public profile ie: John Gotti. The smart ones rarely are recognized because they keep such a low profile.

This post is probably off topic of the reason of first point I made about why the public loves mob movies but I thought I would relate my opinion of the present day Mafia.