I think there's a big difference between Taylor Hicks & David Cook, though; Hicks (who was one of the 2 Idols I bothered to vote for since the show began) shouldn't, in retrospect, have won on Idol. He didn't fit into any of the traditional venues (pop, rock, country) that the show is aiming for.

Hicks was a very charismatic performer. But he wasn't the most talented by a mile. I loved watching the guy PERFORM because he was such a natural for a 'small stage setting', like a jazz or blues club. But Cook DOES have the talent (and I think the charisma)--he could EASILY handle a much larger audience.