PrairiePurrs,
It wasn't that I disliked Michelle Kwan because she didn't jump...which she did, of course, and usually quite well.
I would rather watch a program with no mistakes, full of "in-betweens" and "moves in the field", like beautiful spirals and Ina Bauer moves, than a program full of attempted and fallen on big jumps.
Skaters like Dorothy Hamill and Yuka Sato are amazing to watch skate.

The new scoring system puts a little too much emphasis on doing certain things to rack up points rather than just letting a skater skate.

Michelle's style did not bode well with the new skating system. People like Kurt, Yuka, Dorothy and many others would not do well with that system either...maybe if they'd been "raised" on it. But, certain skaters who had come up with the 6.0 system and were really engrained to skate for that system, just couldn't do well with this new system coming into effect mid-stream through their eligible career.

One of my issues with Michelle was that all her programs looked the same. She never "stepped outside the box". But that being said, I totally applaud her for all she did in her skating and have any ill-will thoughts towards her. She just wasn't my cup of tea in her style of skating.

I also admit, my heart has always been with the pro skaters who were more free to do what they wanted in their programs. There is a HUGE difference in watching a live or televised competition compared to watching a live or televised show starring pro's who are entertaining and having fun.

The most exciting thing at the live shows was the lights going down, the venue getting quiet and seeing the first flashes of the skate blades under the curtain where the skaters ender the ice and then the SOUND of the blades on the ice. Thrilling!