Well, one of the things that actually keeps this manga on my 'weekly read' list is the fact that it is constantly denying my expectations of how the plot should progress. I blame all of the shounen mangas/anime conditioning us to expect a certain difficulty curve for our protagonists. I simply enjoy the character's struggles because, in Bakuman, they seem like REAL hardships, not just some enemy that needs to be out-leveled. It is probably due the the attention to detail in the writing, and the conservative logic most of the characters rely upon.

Likewise, I enjoy the wordiness of the series. It just feels like I am reading more than I do each week, which is a big thing for a manga starved fool. It takes me around 15 minutes to read a chapter, which is great by shounen standards. Anyway, just felt like sharing a little Bakuman love for those on the fence.