Debunking the Myth: Heroes WASN'T Ruined by the Writers Strike (It Was Just Bad)

One of the most memetic comments in the history of TV forums, including r/television, is that Heroes was a show that was "ruined" by the infamous Writers Strike of 2007-2008.

It wasn't.

Evidence:

1. Heroes had a great first season, but by the finale it was already trending downwards. It was universally considered a disappointment as two ridiculously powered heroes basically do nothing and the strong girl hits someone with a parking meter.
2. While the second season WAS disrupted by the Strike, other shows had phenomenal seasons that year, including LOST Season 4 and Breaking Bad Season 1.
3. The writers gave up on their "anthology" idea, and had no plan. The conflict at the beginning of Season 2 was just a redux of the one from Season 1, except replace nuclear bombs with virus.
4. Seasons 3, 4, and the reboot Reborn were all very bad. Did the Writers Strike permanently cripple the brains of the creatives?

Heroes was a flash-in-the-pan BAD show, that had a strong first season with a milquetoast payoff. It then went directly down hill.

The Writers Strike had NOTHING to do with why this show became bad, or remained bad, for a very, very long time.