Dramamama, I must say that I totally agree with you.
Once is a good show. Yes, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but personally, I think that there is great material there that is preformed rather well. There have been many people that have seen it, thought that they weren't going to like it or that it wasn't their cup of tea, and walked out of the theatre realizing that they were wrong. It's okay to not like a show. Hell, there are plenty of shows that people here praise to high heaven about but I can't stand. But, one doesn't have to belittle those who do like it or come off with a sense of being superior to those that do enjoy it.
With that being said, you need to realize that it is rather hard for shows to be constant sell outs like Wicked or Lion King etc. And, considering that Once doesn't have huge sets or a big running cost, I think that it is foolish to assume that this show being on TKTS for a couple of days automatically equates a closing notice. Lots of shows are up there nowadays that should be sellouts. Look at the economy we are in.
And, After Eight, most people who do buy premium tickets do so because they are unaware of anything else. They are typically tourists who are buying theatre tickets through a kiosk in their hotel that only sell tickets at those prices. They are unaware of telecharge or TKTS and prior to buying tickets have the midset that Broadway is expensive. So, they shell out big bucks for tickets that they could get for a lot cheaper. If anything, you should feel sorry for them because producers pull the wool over their eyes and are able to get away with this as a result.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll