A fair set of questions.
I think we can say that 'ceasing to exist' is a kind of failure. No one really noticing that it ceased to exist speaks to a wider failure.
The crowds were okay. They were fine. But never more than that. We would also kill for the level of marketing they got - for example, Sky trailed it for ages in advance, like they did with the Exiles, like they don't really do now.
The players may have got a run out in a rep environment but what did that translate to for England performances (that's a genuine Q - I can't remember which years and series it fitted into).
In my view, we should note just how badly the mid season internationals (and, indeed, end of season ones) are done and realise that the Roses will be done by the same people, in the same way. They won't magically have more money or more commitment.
The solution to one thing being done badly is not to come up with another thing done badly.