I started out hating him. But in the end I really liked the character.
100 Reasons Kirk is better than Picard
http://www.comedycorner.org/12.html
By the time I was in a position to watch Next Generation I had already seen the movie “Lady Jane.” From a minor part (I believe he was the Earl of Warwick) Patrick Stewart just filled the screen and stole the scene.
To me, the Jean Luc Picard role was like a five star chef making hotdogs in a push cart at a little league game. Sure, it's a good hot dog, but the chef is wasting his abilities.
I liked him too and Deanna Troi was especially hot........