Laughable--maybe. Unreasonable--no. People aren't always what they seem. Like I said before--I take things how they sound. Thats how most people, outside of avid gamers, will.
Revolutionize? Heck if I know. FPS, I suppose. But, as I've said, I don't see the greatness about it. Halo's fanbase is huge--really huge. I'd say even enough to match Marios, and/or surpass it. Now if it was say, id versus Miyamoto, that'd be a tough choice.
But like I've said before, I, as well as most people, take things as how they sound.
I'd go as far to say that no game, ever, has ever had as much a huge gamers base then Halo. A release for Halo, to some people is like entering a paradise. Sad, but true. Really, I can't recall any game, released by anyone who has matched Halo in such a way.
Gotta say though, I enjoyed Quake 4 far more then I did Halo 2.