I think everyone had excellent character growth and the progression and tempo of the show was quite perfect.
Well, a lot of people think this, since the merchandise of SAO is one of my best selling stuff at my store, specially the novels, Asuna figures and Kirito coats. If anything I think its a entertaining teen fantasy when you are not nitpicking it, and it makes me money, so my personal feelings to it are really not that important to me.