What is the appeal of evolution?

Because there's money to be made in shilling for evolution. How many gullible rubes fork over the donations - including governments with more grant money than sense - when evolutionists go on cable TV and ask for donations? It's a hell of a lucrative profession. Beyond that of course is that upsetting the applecart (and ruining so-called scientists' money machine) would cause extreme censure by their peers. You think a biology teacher at a university would ever get tenure (and a guaranteed job for life where they didn't actually have to produce anything) if they published anything that contradicted the prevailing dogma? Hell, they can't even admit that past lies were made even when caught out - look at Haeckel's drawings still be used by evolutionists!

Of course. This is exactly what high-moral-tenor organizations like ICR, AiG, and well-intentioned individuals such as Dr. Hovind, Mr. Baugh, et al, have done. See the reaction of the evolutionists? They denigrate these heroes' credentials, and do everything in their power to discredit them.