I wonder what inspires such strong emotions, and such a "love to hate" dynamic.

It's that many people find them to be very interesting and intelligent on area X of their endeavors while at the same time the same people find them to go utterly off the deep end in area Y. I don't know about anyone else, but when I see a contradiction like that I find myself compelled to find more about that person or group and to try to figure them out. edit: often with a good deal of laughing or frustration which is ultimately unresolved as anything more than 'well, they just dont get it' or 'humans are nuts'