I think u2 should be off the hook for the supposed idea that they were putting themselves on the level of the immortals at the time. Since they kinda, ya know, became immortals themselves. Ill bet a ton of money, that critics who nailed them for that in 1988 were counting on the fact the band would not transcend the 80s and look even dumber that they thought they had become rock royalty. And to be fair to those critics, transcending time and the pop fads is not easy. And u2 would have looked like the dumbest band in history had their run ended after rattle and hum. If Ab completely tanked, u2 would be, not a footnote , but not that much then that if that was the swan song of the groups popularity . A cult group that had a few hits, then a big break though album, then decided to make a movie and album that stated we are legends, just put us in the hall of fame right now. Then the they never mattered again. eh, would have been laughable.