I agree with that Keb, a large part is the costume. Someone said without the pirate suit, makeup and cleanshaven Colin looks like an accountant. A very good looking one but just an ordinary guy. As ZZ Top sang way back in the day “Every girl ‘s crazy bout a a sharp dressed man.” I hope you are right Keb that it helps some make the connection in their minds better (but I think the splitters are highly motivated to try to pretend that Neal doesn’t do anything good as Neal).
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass