In the case of the "Mirrors" fiction in question, I think I
can say why it hasn't attracted comment.  I rather suspect that
this kind of Ranma alternate history (taking it from the 1st
episode), just might be a glut on the market.  

Actually, I wrote this because I personally *love* reading alternate
universe stories, provided they're written good - the 'Elseworlds' series
was particularly nicely done, and I also loved Mark Doherty's 'Ryoga and
Ukyou' story.

So why write one?

Because as much as I like reading great fanfiction, if it's good enough, it
always has me saying, "Now why didn't *I* think of that?" at the end of it.
 If I write the fanfic, I don't have that problem. <g>

Until the
third chapter, I noticed nothing about it which would particularly
attract comment from me because I'd seen it all before.  This
one just had more of it.  However, I would never write to the
author and say such a thing because to do so would be the surest
way of stopping him dead in his tracks.  

Actually, if someone said that to me, I wouldn't stop writing the story -
in fact, I'd just try to make what came out next more interesting.

As a matter of fact, someone commented something very similar to what you
just said to me after I released the first two chapters, and as you
apparently liked chapter 3, I guess what they said must have worked. <g>

Negative C&C isn't bad, just so long as it isn't a flame.  I've had several
people tell me to get rid of Tarou because he's not doing anything; well, I
have plans that should correct that problem in the future.  Another comment
I often get is 'you have too many characters,' and perhaps I do.

Don't worry, though - I intend to use them all to their fullest... :)

And that would have been
a shame given that it would have precluded my getting to read
the third chapter in which Ukyo and Ryoga really come alive.  
Ranma and Taro are still dead weight of course, but Ukyo's 
"training" technique for Ryoga was hilarious.  Maybe Hunter
Kid (I think) will come up with something equally good for Taro, 
given enough time.

I hope I can come up with something amusing. :)

Hunter Kid
http://www.serve.com/guilds/ranma/
guilds@mail.serve.com