yeah very fair! I think that's the level on which a lot of people were fascinated by him. and don't get me wrong, I had my fair share of characters like that who I found fascinating at that age! (see for example: my love of mercedes lackey books as a teen) the phantom just wasn't one that worked for me, for whatever reason.

tbh the phantom songs that have lots of people singing don't work nearly as well for me as I want them to; I find them so chaotic that I can't follow what anyone is saying, and just get frustrated. I'm glad they work for you though!