I think it's worth considering the quite conservative nature of musicians and instruments.
Look through the classifieds and you will see a large number of basses (possibly even a majority) which are based on the P and J.
Fundamentally simple, a lot of basses today modelled after them are technologically the same. Two bits of wood bolted together with what is effectively 60 years old electronics technology.
That has a lot to do with taste, and what players want as the manufacturers see it.
I wanted a vintage Fender bass - the reason why is possibly irrelevant, but I wasn't going to get one to look at but to play. I wanted it to play well and sound great.
I would say I played about a dozen, all for sale. Out of those I really loved two, I thought about 4 were "meh" and the other 6 were frankly dogs. They were all about the same price.
A different player on a different day might have tried all 12 and come to a completely different conclusion. It's an individual thing.
I have played some nearly new basses that I have thought of as brilliant - and some I've thought were really very disappointing. I'd say the ratio for me has been about 50/50.