Except that Mongo didn't find success through "simply being successfully marketed". So many people in this thread cannot seem to understand how to look at the business as a whole. Software devs are blasting the software for not being a mind-blowing piece of technology, while not understanding that it has its niche and - apparently - a good business strategy.
You cannot (typically) succeed by only having an amazing product. You also (typically) cannot succeed by dumping millions into sales and marketing for a truly garbage product. The product itself and the business behind it are both necessary elements for success.
There are a lot of developers in this thread trying very hard to appear smart by jumping on the "Mongo is a joke" bandwagon.
Imagine if everyone using MongoDB had to pay for it, you know, like most things in the world?
I suggest they are giving away their cake and picking up a few crumbs after the fact.
Builders don't typically give away homes to sell a few cabinets.
That said, I do think they made a way of handling a data model pleasurable. Different paradigm++