I think you're saying, "But they're not a good example of the things that can go right," and I'd have to agree. As a cautionary tale memories of that show delayed me buying my first house by almost five years. And I should have vetoed some things my partner was okay with that bit us even though I knew better.

I recall thinking for instance how unrealistic it was how often they knew a guy who knew a guy who could get them a nice reclaimed piece to greatly reduce the money:quality ratio for a bathroom, a staircase, a fireplace or a gable. From a standpoint of normalizing recycling and reclamation, thumbs way up. But nobody is that lucky when the cameras are off. I'm sure extra favors were returned off-camera (in addition to the brief infomercial)