Anecdotal data. I released a couple of things on product hunt. Popularity-wise one did will, the other went nowhere. Financially, it was completely the opposite. Boring stuff is very successful. I haven't seen a "popular" product hunt thing that I am willing to pay for in ages!!
People pay for pain meds, product hunt featured products are colorful vitamins.
It's a little like competing over the store check-out aisle shelves. It's unlikely it has what you actually need but there might be sometime shiny or tasty. And if you do want more next time you'll probably go shop around instead.
People pay for pain meds, product hunt featured products are colorful vitamins.