Besides the drunk-n-high thing (the same could be said for ZZTOP fans in a lot of ways, IMO) I think the appeal was that tendency certain people have to associate times in their lives with certain music. And when that time was a carefree, party atmosphere they tended to overlook how bad the music was. They turned themselves inside out trying to find meaning and make excuses for the bad music and it was kind of a 'cult' thing like all the Dylan-worship. At least Dylan seemed to have some deep thoughts and poet's talents but anybody who tells me that Bob Dylan is a singer needs a Belltone. (That's a hearing aid for the uninitiated
)