Back when people used phone books instead of search engines, businesses would choose names that would be listed first alphabetically[1]. Even now, there are three unrelated AAA Plumbing businesses within 10 miles of me.
I know a shop that picked a 'Z' name so that they would be the last place that a prospective client called, their reasoning being that they would only get interesting jobs (the ones that everyone else said NO to) as a result.
Probably, but when I see that I think of the problem as being more with the consumer rather than the business. Obviously the business is going to do what it has to to survive and thrive, but I would much rather consumers step up to the plate rather than businesses needing to throw softer pitches.
This is more true of creative pursuits (I don't think an artist should "dumb down their art" to increase mass appeal), but I think it holds true for businesses as well.
It's just very "Idiocracy" to me, but maybe I'm being oversensitive.
Maybe, but it also is forcing a lot of editors to use article titles that actually make sense. There are plenty of editors, especially in the magazine business, who use silly, non-descriptive title to their articles because if you're holding the physical magazine, then they've likely already captured your money. Many magazines have featured a table of contents with the ridiculous title in bold, followed by a subtitle that actually tells you what the article is about underneath.
For example, Skydiving dropzones. Some in Wisconsin: