I don't know, I get the feeling that even though they're setting it up to be a 'triangle', Det. Mike is supposed to be annoyingly masogonistic to push Vicki into Henry's arms. Whatev, I'll take half-ass vampire show (with hope to get better) over no vampire shows.

And yes, Marcus Van Sciver was a total tool as well...

But the difference between Marcus and Det. Mike, besides being a vamp and all those other reasons you listed, the accent. Anybody can be less of a tool if they can pull off an accent.