Full disclosure -- I didn't buy and play the game. I'm someone who was happily spoiled and watched other people play when it came out.
For me, it's story over everything. Many games have amazing graphics today so while that's a definite plus, if I don't like the story, it's a bust for me. There were plot holes. There were poor character decisions (though, I argue that those "poor decisions" could have been justified with better storytelling... but that's subjective too. I've seen many people praise the story -- not 10/10 guppies, but folks that gave an alternate view to the detractors). Personally, there was a feeling of pointlessness by the end (all that for nothing -- but even that could be a good thing, story-wise. I can't tell you how many post-apoc movies I've seen that left you with a sense of hopelessness or overwhelming loss, that tore out your heart and gave you no reprieve. So while I didn't personally like it, that doesn't mean that it's a 0/10 lol.... sorry, I'm all over the place. I don't have a point). I also think I'm spoiled by games like Heavy Rain (which had over 20 different endings). I like the idea of having a choice. I want the choice to make Ellie's final decision that she made in the game. I want to choice to do the opposite. I think with a game this divisive, that would have been a great appeal. CHOICE.
That being said, I think some folk are hating to be hating to the nth degree because of the foolishness "Disobedient Canine"/Neil/Sony were doing leading up to this release (and continuing afterward). As in, people being hit with DMCA's for discussing the game before it came out, people being DMCA'd before AND after the release due to memes, people being actually suspended from Twitter over said memes, etc. At this point, I'm not sure where the hatred of the company ends and the dislike/hatred of the game begins.
AND THIS MAY BE UNPOPULAR, BUT THE IDEA OF FOLKS NOT LIKING SOMETHING BECAUSE OF A "STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER" OR AN "LGBTQ+ CHARACTER" NEEDS TO DIE. Some may feel that way, but seriously... The DLC where it was revealed Ellie was gay? It made a drop. Not a splash. Some folks were confused but were like, "Oh, okay." Like, around the parts I frequented it wasn't a big thing? But that's just my experience. People wanted to play with Ellie and Joel for this game, end of. They were excited to continue playing with Ellie. Many people didn't wanna play with Abby -- while there were plenty of jokes about her being "brolic" (which is as far as I'ma go with that), most of it had to do with her killing a fan favorite and just not caring about her in general. She was a character made to be divisive and hated, a character that was, more or less, humanized during your time playing with her, but a character that most people still didn't care for even after seeing her backstory and motivations. Some people like her, some people don't. That's life. Painting all consumers who don't like this game/that character with one broad brushstroke only brings more hate to your and your game. But oh well, gaming culture is toxic anyway, so it is what it is."