People like to compare DSP to Arin, which I think is fairly accurate. Arin is basically an alternate universe version of DSP where DSP never moved and still had people like John Rambo to carry his channel. I think Arin gets by on people being convinced they need him, but then realizing they are successful on their own merits and drifting away once they realize how little Arin actually does for them.
Y'know, I could make a little list of things Arin and Phil have in common besides incompetence at vidya:
- Try to present themselves in initial presentations as alright hosts before quickly devolving into their true apathetic if not outright hostile nature towards even genuine fans.
- A much more charming and chill co-host friend who they act dickish to and who's more talented with his own thing.
- Have (Or in Phil's case, had) a relationship with a fellow egostroking/gravy train-riding lolcow woman with attitude issues/scams who they whiteknight to no end even when they're clearly in the wrong. (At least Leanna finally wisened up, dumped him and got her act together as far as I know)
- Shittalk on suggestions for better/alternate content production only to have a completely different stance on it when they're forced to adapt in order to stay relevant. (Arin thinking doing Let's Plays was stupid before creating Grumps and Phil's transition from camcorder to capture device.)
- A good deal of controversies under their belt due to their ego's/temper tantrums and poor damage control.
- Doing a 180 on their attitudes regarding memes they try profiting off. (Interesting reverse instance here though, Arin hating on a fan referencing Damnit Ross when he made buck out of it, while Phil hated any reference to the O-face incident before embracing it for damage control/profiting purposes when he tried to make it a emote on Twitch IIRC)
Probably overlooking a thing or two, but I think these are the biggest highlights. What I will give Arin though is that unlike DSP he's had talent and skill from the get-go but pissed it away in avaricious pursuit for e-fame rather than continuing doing what he liked, and actually managed to make a successful channel/brand out of Grumps.
Honestly, I feel bad for Dan. He tries to stay super positive and Arin just shits on everything he enjoys about a game.
In some way I do feel Danny is entertaining in his own way separately from Jon, but it's weird that Dan constantly refrains from playing games, especially 3D ones most of the time (albeit he's more self-conscious about it) when he's the co-host of a game-centered duo.
He strikes me as a clearly more music-industry guy from the 80's who's barely had any history with games and only does it for the sake of a steady job/staying good in Arin's graces rather than being passionate about it similarly to a non-gaming parent of a kid who's addicted to vidya, but I do commend his clear passion for immersion in the realm of vidya and Arin sadly ruining it spectacularly for him with his bias.