***The animation was less than amazing, but I think people found the stories and characters pleasant and enjoyable, which would explain the popularity.***
could be. Then H-B took over almost all the cartoon shows and that is all many ever saw or related too. They wouldn't know good animation if it came up and kicked them in the A$$.
Well, many better animated cartoons are more well-known than Hannah-Barbera stuff. Though I think older Fleischer cartoons are criminally underrated.
They were restricted by budgets. Look at the early Tom and Jerrys. They were brilliantly animated.