"So much freaking hype over ZERO"
The thing that makes this more than 'ZERO' is that many homes are still not fixed and debris is everywhere. It doesn't take much wind to cause more damage. I don't think many people around here were too worried about the storm, otherwise.
Look I live just south of Melbourne. I went through 3 storms last year...I understand what your point is but there are worse thunderstorm cell's that happen on a regular every day week day and this storm was barely even up to them.