You know, I think I understand where all the hate comes from -- because I've been on the receiving end of the hate for another well-known game. Not Whiplash (though I'm still very droopy and despondent about that), but Kingdom Hearts.
Man, people love tearing this game to bits. They talk about the camera and the tiny environments and the enemy repetition and Nomura's character designs going berserk, and they're right, but in my opinion that ignores the fact that the overall KH package is epic and enthralling. People couldn't see the forest for the trees, in other words, and the haters (including, famously, Shinji Mikami) chalked up the humungous sales figures on tiny Disney-loving tots and teenage Japanese girls who like cute things.
As for Nintendogs, I see something of the same thing happening. I think it is a ripoff of any number of other Tamagotchi ripoffs except with unconvincing 3D models, and I think Japanese people buy it because it looks cute and has a smart ad campaign behind it, not because Famitsu gave it 40 or Nintendo is a video-game genius or anything. I think it will be the same case with whatever American consumers become interested in the game. However, other people proclaim this to be the savior of the Nintendo Dead System and a new breakthrough in interactive entertainment, and I don't want to call them stupid as many of them agree with me on other topics, such as Whiplash.
So what you have are two games that have an out-there concept with flaws, but a large fanbase willing to forgive those flaws. I forgave them with KH, but I cannot let Nintendogs deceive me.
edit: Oh yeah, when this thread hits the archive, will Drinky delete all the "Dude, I'm posting for posterity, this thread rules" replies?