re: Michael Scott vs Ron Swanson

Swanson was hilarious, but the show became so outlandish and crazy, that it removed elements from Swanson. It didn't have those certain aspects of a drama that The Office maintained. It's why Michael was able to touch viewers on a much more heartfelt and personal manner.

Also The Office through its Michael run(7 seasons), always made a point to have a straight character and to keep the outside world straight, it allowed for their idiosyncrasies to be much more funny. Everyone in Pawnee was pretty much bat shite crazy. Don't get me wrong, Tom Haverford, Andy Dwyer and Ron Swanson are top characters to me, only Michael Scott, Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute are ranked above them.

It's those little elements of drama that push them over the top.