The concept of the universal audience is a rather common notion in the realm of rhetoric. Serving the purpose of a training ground for a speaker, the universal audience becomes the litmus test that allows for determining weaknesses in the argument and locating possible objections.
Therefore, to ensure that all possible issues are identified, one must presume that the audience in question is exceptionally knowledgeable and educated about the subject matter, as well as highly intelligent and capable of constructing complex argumentations. For this reason, the portrayal of the imaginary audience is typically rather flattering.
At the same time, the specified tool allows inviting the audience to participate in a dialogue, which can be considered evidence of the speaker not merely flattering the listeners but also engaging them actively in the discussion process and perceiving them as worthy opponents.