It's not that hard to write a catchy pop song, just turn on the radio its full of them. I wouldn't really consider the Foo Fighters fun and catchy because when I think fun and catchy I think of something like the All Girl Summer Fun Band or Best FrienRAB Forever, something that's actually fun and catchy. Maybe his music videos are fun but I think fun generally implies there's something, well really fun about the music itself. Like a bouncy or joyous quality to it like the Beach Boys or Ramones. Catchy I suppose they have the right hooks and choruses but to me catchy is always something slightly twinkly and poppy. I think the Foo Fighters are too rooted in modern rock for that. I'd more say Grohl and co. aim to make radio rock anthems then fun and catchy songs.
I don't see how his music is different from any other modern rock artists that have come and gone. Maybe there's something I'm missing but every time I hear a Foo Fighters song I don't get "Wow this is unique" I'm surprised anyone would make that claim to be honest. In fact I don't get how you say music doesn't have to be different or inventive to be good than say there's no artists doing something like them...maybe you should get your own opinions straight before trying to argue against others?
Frankly I think your argument kind shows how much substance the Foo Fighters lack. I mean for a band that cites Husker Du, Big Star, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, The Stooges and the Beatles as influences its pretty sad when your argument to defend them is the same one I use to explain why I like Kate Nash or Rihanna.
I'm also getting sick of people bringing up Elliott Smith everytime they argue with me, I listen to a wide variety of artists from Mogwai to The Rapture to Daniel Johnston to Big Black to Primal Scream to Man Man to Robyn. I mean fuck I'm a McLusky fan do you think music being intimate and "meaningful" is all I look for? No it's not.