I firmly believe that the one thing that Leo got right was the scale length with the P. The std P neck diemensions (for me) are perfect but I understand others leaning toward a narrower faster neck.
Lots of that original design are now very much superceeded because of material technology, and electronics being smaller faster cleverer etc.
HOWEVER, none of this takes into account fashion and MOJO. SO the question I chuck into this smorgasbord is...
"Why, when there are so many [u]other[/u][b][/b] excellent basses available, is the P more popular than ever (with the exception of the EMO/Thrash/Death metal, scene) ?"
Just watch Mtv for an hour, and you will be hard pushed to see anything other than a Fender P or J...... We all on here have every make under the sun, but everybody has at least one or hankers after one of thier fave Fenders.....
Answer that question and you have answered the original question above....!