To each their own, Mister Matt. I don't particularly like Marie Christine as a show, but the main character is a very interesting, flawed, and complicated character that the audience can also connect to. That's the only time I've ever felt that way about a Lachiusa character.
I've only listened to Hello Again twice all the way through and I agree that he is very capable of weaving characters together through song ("Gin/Wild" in The Wild Party is a great example of this), but again, I never felt anything about any of the characters and, to me, that is because Lachiusa distanced them from me and so I was left admiring, but unmoved, by the work.
And I think we can all agree that ANYTHING was more deserving than Aida for Best Score that year.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.