Nubs Nob doesn't need to win the resort arms race. Its appeal is simpler: good grooming, a strong local reputation, and a mountain-first feel that makes skiers trust it. In a region with plenty of family resort energy, Nubs feels like the place people pick when they care about turns.
The mountain works because it respects the ski day. You don't need a huge village or a complicated setup when the surface is good and the hill skis cleanly. For Midwest skiers who value quality over spectacle, that matters.
The limitation is that Nubs isn't the full-package answer for every group. If lodging, pools, restaurants, and non-ski activities drive the trip, Boyne Mountain may fit better. Nubs is for the skier's vote in the car.