I always think I loathe it, but there have been several fics and more novels that I have really quite enjoyed, and in a number of those cases not even noticed the tense until afterwards.

Sadly, I think I loathe it because more often the faults of the form are obvious, as you say.

And we are alike in our hobbies, but not the timing: work has been a constant boil of rescuing other people from disaster of late, and long hours spent doing so, with the result that when I come home I can only manage Miss Marple, M. Poirot, and DPNs. Oh, and a walk, the cats and Mr B, with the odd baked pudding, but that is really it!