I don't like when people project their own bias onto a character and then attack people for liking that character, based on the fanon construction they've created inside their own head.

I'm pretty ambivalent towards the trolls, and Eridan is just another troll to me. He's rude? Wow. He's space racist? People love Equius, and he's way more committed to the bit. He's weird about relationships? Huh? Have you read Homestuck? Did you somehow miss Terezi's shenanigans with Karkat, Vriska's with Tavros? EQUIUS? AGAIN?? Trolls are literally the narrative impetus for that kind of bullshit, Eridan ain't special.

The only reason I can think of for Eridan hate picking up the way it did is that he killed off Feferi, so if you're a Feferi die-hard you're maybe bitter about that. (But hey, blame Hussie for that one).