I think King has kinda developed a cult following since Strange Adventures #10 was, if I'm not mistaken, ranked 50th in May's combined charts. I don't think that another writer would have sold as much with writing out of continuity story about Adam Strange.
As for Hitch, I think that lots of people have developed "this hot artists is only here for 3 issues" scepticism. If this artist is on something like Batman or Justice League? Okay, maybe he is staying for a while, but Hawkman? I suspect that some people were surprised that he stayed for 12 issues.