Grim Reaper:

Grand Chess is too unlike contemporary chess.

You wrote this as if to suggest that it is some kind of drawback. Why should grandchess, or any variant for that matter, be more like chess? Furthermore, your point cannot survive scrutiny; grandchess is like chess in some ways, different in others. There are opening, middlegame, and (sometimes) endgame phases, as in chess, but obviously the play is more complex, and more tactical, due to the larger board and extra pieces.

The setup lacks symmetry,

HUH??? Each side's position is a mirror of the other, as in chess and many variants (including your beloved gothic), so you are just plain wrong there; besides, this point is meaningless.

there is no castling, and the starting position is mildly chaotic.

Yes, castling is forbidden. As the inventor himself says, "It is a battle. Why should the King be safe?"

The BrainKing community does not represent our target market, as we target consumers. We sold perhaps a couple dozen Gothic Chess sets on here, but over 63,000 worldwide since December 2000 (thanks mostly to large drop-ship orders to QVC and, oddly, correctional facilities in the United States.)

Then, why are you so upset?! Most of us would be elated with just a small portion of your success.

Each variant has their own lovers and haters, as was before Gothic, and will be after Gothic.
If you don't like it, don't play it, simple enough.

Finally, we agree!!!!!!
;))

Just don't try to tell me it is not popular. I walked away from a $75/hour consulting job in the year 2000 because I was making more with Gothic Chess on the side.

I'd never tell you it is not popular, and I never said nor suggested that; I just said it won't be much missed here. If you had read my previous post carefully, you would have observed that it read, in part:
although I recognize that gothicchess has a large following

Come to Bartell Hall in Kansas City next August. Watch over 4,000 high school kids play for the prize of having free college tuition for one year. The entrance fee is only $125.

Tell them how much you like Grand Chess, how much you dislike Gothic, and pay close attention to their reaction.

Sorry, can't make it, too far out of my way! Besides, if I don't even like playing gothic for free, why on earth do you think I'd want to PAY for it? .... So, tell me: Is the attraction the game concept or the prize money offered?