The following is based on hearing and reading the observations of others. I have never played DNF because quite honestly I've never been interested in the series.
I think DNF's biggest crime is that it's regarded as decidedly mediocre. Given the years upon years of hype, people were expecting the game to either be the best thing since sliced bread or a steaming turd of Biblical proportions. Either outcome would have been more favorable in my opinion, as people would have gotten properly worked up about the final product one way or another. In reality, DNF was so bland, so utterly mediocre and forgettable, that people just can't get excited over it. Ironically, that's produced a strong reaction of its own.
Also, I don't see why we need to be "nice" to a game that stars a character like Mr. Nukem. He's not exactly Fluttershy, you know. Duke's a big boy, he should be able to handle hecklers.
