Dear Holmesians,
All stories which end in the victory of Good over Evil has always
appealed to the people. The Ramayana, The Mahabharatha remain popular
despite its antiquity since it elucidated this aphorism in a mythical
form. Probably SH is as much a folk hero as Ulysses or Achilles.
It is a very simplistic assesment which I have made , i think but it
partially answers your question
Sumal