Why do so many gamers dislike Halo?

[cAPSLOCK]

I've played a ton of FPS since the original Wolfenstein 3d on my 386. The thing is Halo brought nothing really compelling to the FPS scene.

It succeeds for the same reason Nintendo succeeds: low barrier to entry.

It's not like Counter Strike or Armed Assault where you fail for months before becoming "semi-not-crappy;" you can immediately jump in and be competent if you have any experience FPS games.

Halo really is the Wii of FPS gaming. That's why it's popular and why the hardcore FPSers turn their nose up at it.

For me personally, that particular genre doesn't appeal to me unless it has the strategical/tactical depth of something like Counter Strike, the hardcore realism and scale of Armed Assault, or the pure furious speed of Quake 3.

I understand what Bungie is doing, though, and I respect it. I just personally don't like the game.