TheBoost said:

I think I tend to agree that the PT hate is a viscous cycle. It seems to me that more people didn't totally hate the PT until a while after it came out. Partly this could be personal reflection, as the "OHMYGOD ITS STARWARS!" vibe wore off, and part of it might be the cycle of internet bitching honing disapointment of the films into a bitter dagger of snark filled hate.

I feel it seems some people hate the PT because it is the "in" thing that all the cool kids are doing. I feel this way because I could have sworn there was a time when I was a bit of an outcast among my circle of friends who like SW, because I didn't enjoy AOTC at all, while they thought it was a million times better than TPM. When I'd say it TPM was a lot better, they'd call me nuts. Now it really seems most of them tend to agree with me that AOTC is the weakest of the PT.

The question is, is this change of opinion a shift to follow the more popular views and be in the "in" crowd? Or can it be attributed to AOTC not holding up well over multiple viewings?

Personally, I'd give my friends and people like them the benefit of the doubt and go with the "not holding up well over multiple viewings" explaination. I think there was also a big movement from, "Wow, ROTS was downright amazing!" to "Well, at least it was a little better than AOTC..." for the same reason.