How can you say that it's out of character? He gives a plausible 
explanation for why Ataru was the way he was in UY as well as why he's 
acting the way he does in TSY. The explanation may be different then 
what your used to, but that doesn't make it invalid. 

I think the real reason most UY fans don't like it, is that they, like 
Tomobiki, villify Ataru and venerate Lum.

I think, as with most controversial subjects, the answer is more complex.

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with TSY myself.  I like the epic 
quality of the plots, and the way things are thought out.  I like some of 
the characterization.  However, there's a lot of characterization I don't 
like, and Fred's dialogue is...awkward at times.  (Mike's too, but when we 
think of TSY, we think of Fred Herriot, not Mike Smith).

I think a major reason that TSY went awry is not necessarily Ataru's 
change in personality, but the way that made him so angry and hateful for 
about a third of the series.  The sheer venom unleashed by Ataru and some 
of the original characters on certain people (coughShinobucough) at the 
beginning of the series is almost unreal.

As for the androids...well, that's alt.sex.fetish.robots' problem. ^_^

But as for TSY...it's nasty to the regular cast.  Some, like Shinobu and 
Ryuunosuke, it eventually turns nice to.  Others, like Megane and Ran, the 
authors never really warm up to them.  Not only that, but its new 
characters are more confident, more talented, and also don't like the 
regular cast.  Especially the Sagussans, which really requires a new 
essay. ^_^

In any case, I think TSY must have something going for it, if only because 
people hate it with such passion.  No indifference here.

--SG