>eSports at this level reminds me of the old circus/carnival freak shows,

I don't think that's really a fair comparison. Most of the appeal of esports is just admiration for someone who's really good at something you enjoy doing.

If you played football or hockey competitively growing up, you have more appreciation of the sport than someone who never did and conversely, it's probably harder for someone who never played to really grasp the nuances or even understand the appeal beyond regional tribalism.