Because they won the game, and had the nerve to never go away.
Because they had the nerve to be good businessmen as well as good rock stars.
Because Bono had the nerve to cash in most of the positive regard towards him and the band in exchange for trying to get some good done in the world.
Because some people fell in love with U2 at a particular phase of their music, and never accepted any change in sound ever since, missing their 'old U2'.
Because some people think the band should keep changing and still sound too much like 'old U2'.
Because sunglasses.
Because people don't want to be told what to like, who to like, or what's good to listen to. It's their music, their phone, their playlist, and U2 is just too big to be niche and customizable anymore.
Because everyone loves them and has nothing bad to say about them except the people who hate them and say bad things because they hate that they're so beloved.
Because internet. The internet is for complaining. This is how U2 complaints become memes and then stereotypes, and suddenly the public thinks,"oh, U2. Bono's the holier than thou guy who should stick to singing but tells us to spend our money on his causes even though he's a billionaire who dodges taxes, sold out to corporations, and hangs out with evil politicians, right? And the sunglasses? Fuck em."
Because two over-saturation points with JT/RH and then 2006 campaigning Bono/Vertigo iPad push.
Because the haters are actually far fewer than those that love the band. They're just louder, whinier, and it's cooler to hate than to just keep heaping praise.
Because Bono tends to talk too much.
Because familiarity breeds contempt.
Because no one listens to the music.
Because because.
Sent from my fingertips.