Michiko to Hatchin is the only 'Bebop-esque' thing to have come out since Bebop. It has a lot of style and great substance where the two protagonists are concerned, but it rides an unreliable wave of tepid stories. The beginning and ending are great, the middle is mostly superfluous. I don't think it's as 'shoe-in' as you'd like to think because it features a strongly female cast, isn't a shoujo, and didn't make waves in the community.
Stuff like that is harder to sell.
EDIT: Oh yeah, review time!
http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a832.html
Short version: I love, love, love what this show tries to do and more shows should do it! But the director needs practice.