Preface: I normally do not read sci-fi/fantasy, and enjoy non-fiction more.

Here's the thing: I started the series reading it as a very serious take on the fantasy genre, and was very dissapointed with the direction RJ took in many instances.

Recently, while doing a re-read of the series earlier this year, I quelled the editor in my from my literary days, and just read it as an updated fairy story. I was surprised by the fact that I liked it very much more when reading it as the latter. Personally, I've found the story structure to be more interesting, and while the series has lost it's compellingness for me, I think it's a lot more fun.

It has some thought-provoking characters, such as Moiraine, but in general, I do not find the main cast to be that impressive or interesting - I'm actually more drawn into the world-building, as gestalt as it can be, and the way the laws of the universe are set up.

So my comment is not a knock against the series - it's simply that for me, as a reader, my enjoyment comes out of reading it as casual reader versus being overly critical towards it. This is not a series that does well under close scrutiny, IMHO of course.