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the point of gonzo isn't about the individual getting swallowed up by anything, though that happened to HST, it's about personalizing the story. It's the difference between a dry and impersonal presentation of the facts discovered and allowing the reader/ viewer a peak behind the curtain to see how this was discovered. I think the biggest effect of gonzo can be seen in what's happened to educational/ documentary TV in the last 20 years, we've moved away from those dry Nova specials with the faceless narator to a style where you get to see people going after the story dealing with the sideline issues and commenting on their own efforts. It's the difference between showing the Steps of Moses and showing your show's host climbing the Steps of Moses commenting about the emotional weight of being there and the physical weight of being there in July when it's 120 degrees on the Sinai peninsula. The later is gonzo, and gives the viewers a sense of place.

we've moved away from those dry Nova specials with the faceless narator to a style where you get to see people going after the story dealing with the sideline issues and commenting on their own efforts

Michael Moore immediatley comes to mind.