I remember ,,, once said that the reason some might like/hate FF7's story is dependent on when they played it. If one played FF7 say, when they were teens, they can identify with Cloud and his character. Most of people I know played FF7 when they were about 13 and they really like Cloud, which is why I believe this theory to be true. I, myself, played and beat FF7 five years ago when I was about ten. I never really liked Cloud and his character. In fact, the only thing I thought was pretty good was Sephiroth. So, maybe you don't like FF7 because of the age you were when you started to play it. (By the way, FFIV was my second FF and also my favorite as well )

I also think the whole mainstream/anti-mainstream thing is absurd. It's like a never ending cycle that just says two things:
1. One side assumes all people who like FF7 are rabid fanboys.
2. The other side assumes all people who dislike FF7 are idiotic haters.

It's almost like there's no way to state opinions on FF7 without being insulted by somebody.