I get the impression that the people that love it most tend to be people who are more into Western RPGs rather than people who love something because it's Zelda.
Also, I enjoyed Other M for what it was (minus the continual droning on about 'the baby' in the beginning). Might help that I managed to get it new for $8 rather than $50, so it might paint a different picture of value as I played through it.
I like playing metroid other M, why? It has quality production and presentation, the game plays like Super Metroid 3D (Not a official title) And is one of the best looking games on wii, not to mention is using a dual layer dvd disc which to my knowledge I know only 3 games uses it (Super smash bros brawl and Xenoblade Chronicles) Is a very huge project for that game like the other two.
Why people hated it? Well cause of story reasons, people didn't like seeing samus bad ass bounty hunter being told to follow orders, never expected her to be working with a team, never expected to just be a bit different. At least they explained that "Oh she has her abilities from the last game, but she just can't use them unless she is given permission to" Rather than just having to find them all over again. (You know typical video game logic?) Other reasons, is more slow paced, that part when you have to walk around, and then look through the visor to find a specific spot on screen to target to progress like "Where's waldo" Yeah maybe it wasn't the best but it wasn't AWFUL.
Nintendo decides to go make a metroid game that plays more like classic metroid with the help of team ninja high quality production team and people hate it. Nintendo goes and make a First person / third person shooting game metroid prime, and people like it. Honestly I'm not a fan of either Zelda or metroid series, Hated the first two games of both, But the third on SNES was a better game for me, Both game have a map system, better and much fair attack and controls, playing the game feels better. Meanwhile nes had no map, easy to get lost and requires you to think way too hard for cryptic secrets unless you had nintendo power which be honest, not everyone had.
Another interesting point you made was "western RPG" Not really sure what that is but maybe it became a thing with square enix and how their games usually are played differently every time a new final fantasy game was made. Honestly I just feel is the title that sold the game and then something with the gameplay made people like it. I can see the game plays much like the first 2 nes zelda games with the return of Jumping, looking, exploring and little restriction of what to do, but is probably like going into your backyard and playing in the forest (Or opening a wardrobe closet and discovering NARNIA
) Here is link waking up 100 years with his memory lost, grabs a magic technology made tablet (Looks suspiciously like the system Wii u game pad, nintendo switch system) and start your adventure. "Go on link, go save hyrule, zelda is waiting for you" If Western people like games that just gives total freedom in their game as opposed to just do what you are told next, I was unaware of this type of thing.