I think HOB is more popular for a couple reasons.
For one, people almost always think an artist's early work is better. And sometimes it truly is (but a lot of times people just prefer the material they first heard and fell in love with, it holds the most nostalgia and memories). Pearl Jam never topped "Ten" IMO. Biggie never topped "Ready To Die" (and I believe it's cuz a majority of his appeal, his rawness, came from his struggle b4 his rap career, and as he got successful and "jiggy", and the more he hung with Diddy, the less raw he was, and I often wonder had he never died how he'd have been viewed eventually, would he still end up being considered the goat later, and how he woulda progressed as an artist). But then some artist's work gets better. Like Nirvana's final album, Kurt believed it to be his best work, he had refined his sound, and I tend to agree. His sound got edgier and better over time, success only pissed him off and made him go deeper, instead of watering it down.
But more importantly, I think it's cuz HOB is less deep. It's more party music. Hipsters and casual fans relate to it more. Singing mostly about getting geeked up and smashing chicks is more appealing than all the heart break stuff.
Also, I've been into The Weeknd for a couple years now, but my boy has been up on him since he first came out, and his number one complaint about KL is it's so polished. HOB is raw.
Initially, I felt the same, and felt KL was too deep, like almost the whole album was about some stripper breaking his heart, and no party music is on it. But after I heard it live, sonically it has really grown on me a ton. Some VERY clever samples and production on it, and I like it for what it is now. I also think he's gotten a lot better at singing. His voice often reminds me of the goat of all music and entertainment, MJ, and that's saying something.
I don't quite understand why he pushed "Pretty" as his first single tho. Seems to me, "Wanderlust" is more first single sounding.
"Adaptation" into "Love In The Sky" is amazing tho. The highlight of the album for me. The pitched down Police sample sounds like some Burial $%#t, as does the cinematic vibe in general.
When Abel performed here he said something like "I want to perform some of my new album for you early on b4 it is considered a classic", and I tend to agree, it will be considered a classic in time.