Yeah, I think they were probably just seen as wanna-be Strats, when they were seen. With only about 600 or so being made, there weren't many to go around and I recall the price tag being higher than a Strat. So, I can see why they didn't get any attention.My impression was that Detonators were a way to try and get into the Super Strat thing that was so big at the time. They're great US-made guitars that often fly under the radar, but they were pretty much on the lower-end of the spectrum of Guild electrics at the time. They are one of the most traditional looking of that period's Guild but they often fly under the radar.
They didn't really break into the Super Strat thing because most of them didn't come with double-locking trems and Strat purists wouldn't touch them.
I've never known anyone who had one and didn't like it. I have one but I don't play it much because I have so many others that I like more. I would dearly love to find a Detonator II, though, because they had double locking trems.
I had two Fender Strats at the time I got my first Detonator around 20 years ago and was blown away by how well it was built, how well it sounded, how much better the trem bridge was and how much better it stayed in tune, compared to the two Fender Strats I had. I was sold immediately. But like you, I do have other guitars and Guilds that I play more.