Listeners rarely abandon an audiobook because the writing is poor. They abandon it because following it has become hard work.
Effort is the thing to design out
A reader can glance back a paragraph. A listener cannot, at least not easily. Every unsignalled viewpoint change, every near-identical character voice and every crowded scene adds effort, and effort is what ends a listen.
Small production decisions with large effects
Clear signposting at scene breaks, distinct but unexaggerated character voices, and pacing that gives an idea room to land all reduce the work the listener has to do.
Listeners forgive a lot. They do not forgive being confused about who is speaking.
Why it matters commercially
Finishing drives reviews, and reviews drive recommendation. Making a book easier to follow is not an artistic compromise. It is how the work reaches more people.