Howdy. The little girl I babysit ---for 1 3/4 years--- is now almost 2 and we would watch that movie religiously! I know it forward backward and inside out, and now that I'm away at college, I think I'm going to buy it on DVD.
My point is, the polls are a part of the Jim Henson magic. We all know they are there. And after a while we view the puppets as real life people (monsters?). So, when they do occasionally pop up polls for a cameo appearance (LOL) just remember how good of a job the people controlling them are doing to bring Elmo and Bug to life to a 2 year old kid. :)