Susan Boyle is talented, and I was moved by her performance, but it seems like people think it means a lot more than it actually does, as far as our culture(s) suddenly shifting seismically to embrace older, unattractive women.

...it's called exceptionalism. Exceptionalism. As in Susan Boyle is an exception. The Susan Boyles of the world exist to remind us it can happen to anybody, so stop all your whining about inequality and cultural norms and sit tight and don't ruffle any feathers. The entire purpose of shows like "_______ 's (<--insert x nation name here) Got Talent" is to provide us with Susan Boyles.