Austin is fully aware that some are fearful of going out on a limb, so they go along just to get along and maintain being gainfully employed. However, what he is saying is right. I have made it no secret that I am not a fan of the Miz, but I do recall it being mentioned that he was able to corner Vince and sell what he had to offer. That eventually lead him to become WWE Champion et cetera.
While Zack Ryder garnered a fan-base and could get the crowd to 'woo-woo-woo' with him, what else did he really have to offer? It's not as if he's a good wrestler. Now don't get me wrong, the treatment of him wasn't fair but him 'getting over' seemed more like a fad as oppose to something that would last.
As for Ziggler, he has unfortunately been hit with a string of bad luck when things seem as if they might work for him. His skill got him over with the fans, but his selling abilities have also been a hindrance.
Zack doesn't have to have anything else to him to be a part of the show at least. There's way too many guys with weekly tv time that the fans can't begin to give a shyt about to have a guy that got himself over not make tv. Fandango and Santino has a "comedy" feud going on now. The epitome of 1 dimensional characters. With no WCW, WWE is free and clear to prove points and carry out agendas they never could have done in 1997.