OLTL is still making history. It isn't about entertainment OR education. That can change lives, for the better. I would like to see some lesser known conditions and illnesses get the same kind of attention though. All too often, with the diagnosis, most characters become ineffectual and non-productive.
Soaps have a unique canvas on which to tell the stories.
Instead of just a two hour timeslot, soaps have 12-13 week story arcs and five days a week to tell the story. They can, should, for the most part do, delve into the layers of a storyline. Maybe I should say, for the most part they HAVE in the past made these characters more dimentional. Soaps are about the human condition and overcoming obstacles. Bringing in some RL experiences and issues is ideal for soaps, balanced with entertainment.