RPGs go mainstream in the west

[j_factor]

I think you're toying with the definition of "ignored" here. For something to not be "ignored", that doesn't mean it must have massive sales. I already quite well laid out the characteristics of mainstream genres of the past. The very definition of "mainstream" implies that it must not be solely the territory of a dedicated niche audience, but that's exactly where the majority of releases in the RPG genre are.

So, again, how many genres qualify as mainstream to you? Three? FPS, racing, sports, that's it? Maybe minigame compilation if we count that as a genre?