People that really care about running can identify with the 1500m. They know what it means to run 3:50 or 4:20.
For those who cannot identify, they also do not care truly if I run 4:03 in the mile or 4:04. My non-running friends sometimes ask me "what is your mile PR"? I simply convert my 1500m time to the mile (add 17secs). That's because I ran the mile only once about 8 years ago.
But don't think they choice of 1500m or mile has an influence on them whether they would attend a meet or watch TV coverage. Either way they would not do it.
You better be pretty freakin fast if you convert your PRs by adding 17 sec.
WR 1500 3:26
WR Mile 3:43
Maybe people that think they know don't really always know.
Bring back the mile.