My biggest problem with the house elves is the dialogue they provide, second would be the self punishment (mid-sentence). The surprise factor is gone after the second time he hits himself with the lamp, irons his hands, etc.

Comparatively speaking though, Dobby is leaps and bounds better than Winky and Kreature. Kreature is another character that makes my skin crawl. I think Dobby redeems himself later in the book and in the series as a whole. After all, actions speak louder than annoyingly written dialogue!