They visited because The Smiler is an impressive thrill ride by anyone's standards. The quality is not what it should be, but the concept is decent and the ride still fun... you know... certain things excluded.
Most of the public however have no comprehension of who builds what/how, it's just a new attraction, and not everyone likes coasters - I know plenty who don't, but still enjoy days out - so defining what would be "not cool...." etc is rather, wishy washy.
I am a coaster enthusiast first and foremost, and therefore, I want thrilling rides. But if all the public wanted was big out and out thrills, then no other attractions would be popular.
CBeebies land is a prime example as Danny mentions.
Yes, huge impressive coasters will be a draw, but that doesn't mean that smaller coasters that provide a hugely immersive experience aren't popular otherwise a certain Crypt based ride would always be empty...
If they'd have Eftling'd that ride, given it was actually a genuinely IMO (given some space away from it for a while) brilliant world first, that could have actually been a world class experience.
However, much like air, it's half a job.
Alton is becoming an also ran, where as with Nemesis and Oblivion, it was a PINNACLE attraction.
I have never seen an inverted B&M coaster or Dive machine I'd rather have than Nemesis or Oblivion. Yet neither are now the biggest nor "coolest" based on a very simple - "bigger is better" theory.
Obviously Rita was just thrown down, and The Smiler was a decent attempt, and even though I do love it - it does still lack the magic and finesse of Blivvy and Nemmy... yet it's a record breaker.
So basically, theatre & immersion do still count for a lot.