I can give you a list of reasons that non-net savvy fans know that Bowie was doing a fan freindly tour. These are all events from recent memory, or since most casual fans last saw Bowie live. US/Canada centric post, btw.

-Poughkepsie
-Riverside
-Europe opening
-CC heavily promoting the tour.
-recent tv appearances
-last 3 albums were "commercial"(ie: no NIN or d'nb postering)
-99 reissues
-30th reissues
-BOB cd
-BOB dvd
-Marathon tou
-Marathon tour book
-AREA2 tour setlists
-AREA2 reviews that were almost DB only write-ups
-New record label(db feeling optimistic)
-WTC appearance in oct 2001(america/heroes)
-cited as most influentiona musician in UK mag
-new baby
-Glasto press
-BBC release with 2000 show
-Roseland reviews
-print interview friendliness
-99 dates setlists
-Kit Kat Klub show in US radio '99
-Bermuda show on US radio ' 02
-Storytellers '99 show
-NetAid gig '99
-Bowie Bonds meaning Bowie was interesting in making money
-Dumping Reeves, along with any lasting association with TM
-Borneo Horns on heathen, like 83 tour. Mentioned in Heathen press release.
-Pete Townshend on Heathen

I would think that all fans attending a show would have seen, heard, or heard about a couple of the above mentions events. About 25-30% of these events I read about in newspapers like the Vancouver Province. Some of them should have been printed elsewhere in Canada and less so in the States.

BFP