I agree with you there. I wish I could think of any good examples, because I'm sure I've read some where the external POV worked in that respect. In fact, thinking about it, maybe Paul Edwin Zimmer's 'Dark Border' duology. (So not fic, but published stuff.)

*nods* Yeah, I've seen those too. My two main fandoms both have magical creatures, so there's lots of room for that kind of thing. There is a similarity to it, that's true. Especially when used as an explanatory device, as you mentioned it.