Pink Floyd fans: why do you like pretentious bands like PF (plz read the details of the question)?

I agree that Roger Waters got a bit smug and self-indulgent in the later years of his time with the band. "The Wall" has some great songs on it, but its overall effect is to consistently smash the listener over the head with unending misery. It's funny that you say that they "exploited Syd Barrett's condition to the max to keep themselves afloat" with songs on the album "Wish You Were Here." The album that they had just previously released -- "Dark Side of the Moon" -- was a huge hit that would go on to become one of the most successful records in rock history; I hardly think that they needed to exploit anybody in order to keep themselves afloat at that point. You don't like the band. That's fine. I just happen to disagree. At their peak, they did some great stuff that has stood the test of time.