I think it might be partly that we're unused to emotionally expressive males still, and partly that some people were determined to hate him at the beginning for being a jock. (Those of us who didn't squee "OMG! How cute, he has groupies! Aww, and he's genuinely friendly with them, too! Eee we name him via AUTOGRAPH!")

That and I have to admit, some of his behavior in the early game gets a bit annoying. But he does cope well. Especially with the Various Horrible Revelations he keeps getting, particularly that very world-shaking personal one. I was astounded at how well he handled that one, really.