It became popular due to this in the beginning, I'm not going to argue with that. However, I know people who watched it because of this and disliked it. They never watched MLP:FiM again. The show continues to be popular due to people actually liking it. It is one of the few girls shows airing today with diverse characters, excellent animation, and amazing writing. The voice actresses and actors are just an added bonus with everything great about MLP. The majority of people who participate in the fandom don't do it just to be deviant from society's norm: they do it because they genuinely love the show.
The thing about this part of your post is that it's completely opinion based. I, personally, disagree with this. These cartoons are all excellent and quite enjoyable to watch, don't get me wrong. I believe, however, that My Little Pony has more clever writing and characters which I would much rather watch than those of these other shows. There are bronies who will agree with your statement, and those who will disagree. I am a part of the last group.
First of all, people do not view My Little Pony and the brony community through rose-tinted glasses. Probably 90% of the non-brony internet population says that bronies are creepy, disturbing, or all cloppers!
Now, I don't know about you, but to me that isn't seeing us through rose-tinted glasses.