It’s been about 15 years since I’ve been there so perhaps things have changed.
Why are tourists now ‘desparate for any alternative to walking the strip?’
They still do, but it gets pretty hot in the summer, cold and wet in the winter, plus they still pay illegals to get in your face between resort properties handing out their trashy 'escort service' fliers.
The 'Ace' and 'Deuce' bus service is very popular and doing well. The monorail requires a tramp through a casino to get to the stations and still doesn't go downtown, or to the airport.