ET was actually one of my favorite games on the 2600. I probably played it more than any other.

Sure it had bugs, but once you knew the trick it was quite playable and fun. I think what made people hate it so much was that it was a major departure from the simpler platformers and shooters that were the staple of the 2600 market. Adventure games rarely made any headway in those days on consoles until Coleco.