I agree with Sasha's statement 100%.
As far as Evan's popularity, you can't gauge it just by just looking at skating sites like FSU, Great Skate, and ONTD. I know many Evan fans, and 95% of them do not access the skating forums because they view the posters as too catty, mean spirited and cruel.
That's very interesting. I've always admired Evan and did so even more when he won the OGM. He isn't particularly charismatic, but he's a wonderful example of doing the most with the talent you have, and if he wants to give it another try, more power to him. It doesn't look great for him right now, but there's still time for him to surprise us, and I for one will find it gratifying if he does well at Nationals, whether he makes the team or not.
As for the prediction that he'd be lucky to make the top five in Sochi, what's so terrible about that, compared to any other American's possibilities right now? We'd be very fortunate to have a man in the top five in Sochi. Maybe Max Aaron is moving into position to achieve that kind of result internationally (that would be great!), but it's not as if American men's skating is crowded at the top.
ETA: I just went back and watched Evan's interview with Bob Costas the day after he won the OGM in Vancouver, and it's the most wonderful, measured, mature interview. To hear someone that articulate speak about skating is a delight, and it's not all that common. On that night, Evan was the face of skating to American viewers of the Olympics (many of whom weren't all that savvy about our sport), and he made skating look good. That's one more thing that will always make me a fan of his.