Writing for Non-Fiction Genres

» Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Any plans for this subject?

Regarding agents, I believe you can secure one without a platform if your idea is strong enough, and if you have the potential to build on it. Maybe it takes an inside edge (eg, a personal introduction to or chance meeting with an agent), or maybe it's serendipity. Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time, and your preparation and ideas are just what the agent is looking for.
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A couple days ago I emailed 6 agents re my book ideas, and one responded immediately with, "I'm in London on a book conference; call me when I return." I haven't heard from the other five yet. I don't have a platform, but I did get a response. Who knows where that will lead....but the planets could align and we could be on the edge of a great relationship! Or it could be a dead end. We'll see....
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Regarding humor: satire, especially, is rare and valuable. Twain and Vonnegut were famous satirists; I don't think that sort of writing is very common. So, if you can pull it off and you don't have a platform, you may have a better chance at getting published or securing an agent than if you were a "regular" writer.