Really, I've always been a defender of comic sans as appropriate where the intent is to be casual or personal.
One critical comment by a BBC article reader:
"The main problem I have with Comic Sans is that it makes everything written in it look like a parish newsletter pinned to a noticeboard outside the local church."
Exactly. Isn't that the point?
Criticizing this font is like criticizing a 5 year old child's handwriting on a birthday card, and asking why he didn't have professionally calligraphy.