I think it's just "hey look at what an awesome budget we have for a tv pilot!!" which at that time was pretty impressive. LOST, like everything these days it seems like, is one of those love it or hate it things and (like everything these days it seems like) it's way cooler to hate it. But I'm just going to go ahead right now and announce that I love LOST, warts and all. It's my favorite TV show of all time. I enjoyed every episode of every season, and thought the series finale was wonderful. Dissenters shall continue to dissent.
4+8+15+16+23+42 = man I miss that show!