Ubiquity in "5 ways to do anything"

I need to be honest with you. I have list fatigue. I understand the utility. I simply crave balance.

Here's the issue: it strikes me as lazy and uninspired. I see a post like "25 Things I Learned From Opening a Bookstore" take off (2k+ "likes") from someone who owned a bookstore and my heart sinks a little. "You see great writing everyday and you can't do any better than a list? Wait. 2000 people like the list?!"

It's much worse in marketing. Everyone wants to be a thought leader, and advice or knowledge transfer is best dispensed as distilled nuggets of numbered wonder. Search practically any popular industry blog for "* ways to" and marvel at the results. Here's what Guy Kawasaki's results looks like and he's not the worst offender.

I know exactly why the list is such a common mechanism. It's easy to write and easy to digest. But if that's the standard, what's the associated cost?