As implied above, it really does matter what the visitor's interests are.

Not everyone is a beach person (I live a mile from the FLL beach, for example), and not everyone sees shopping as the be-all and end-all of a visit.

Imagine a visitor who:

1) is interested in architecture (classic aka the Bradbury Building) and modern (Disney Hall, the Cathedral, the Caltrans building).

2) wants to take in a sports event (Dodger Stadium or Staples Center)

3) wants easy access to both the Warners studio tour and to Universal

4) wants access to museums (Norton Simon, LACMA) that offer something different than the Getty

5) would rather eat something they can't get at home (food from the stalls at the Grand Central market)

Such a visitor might be better served (and might get better value) in a DT hotel than a Westside lodging.