I agree with your points but i remember when me and my friends back in the 90´s was enjoying to discuss all the mysteries going from part 1 to 3 during a span of like 8 years or something...and i think many of the "holes" and inconsistencies and mysterious screenplay was a big reason (and of course because the main story was intriguing in itself) for us to want to try to figure it all out.... That ending with Münchhausen was a big topic also hehe