So many people call themselves "U2 fans". But this not a concrete block, these are people from all over the world with different lives, different backgrounds, different age, different behaviour, different knowledge about U2 and their music – and different tastes. So don't count too much, of what others like or dislike – just find your own way to and with the ouvre of Bono & Co. It's an individual thing in the end.
For me personally I do hate the butching of U2's last album(s). But it has always been this way, a kind of psychological phenomenon: When I bought my first album in 1984, there was much discussion among the (few) people who cared here in Germany back than about this Irish underground band, whether this album was a failure, a step in the wrong direction. And I do remember, that people who were old enough to attend on of the gigs then, were not only happy. Some of them complained: Why so few songs from 'Boy', 'October' and 'War' in the setlists? And why so many from the new album? Hm, one might get the familiar pattern ...
When 'The Unforgettable Fire' – now after the Live Aid breakthrough – was hailed by many as a masterpiece, and three years later 'The Joshua Tree' came out, I d know people, who lost their interest in U2 supposed to "have betrayed their punkish roots and leaning too much towards the USA". Hm, one might get familiar with this pattern ...
Even louder were the voices, when 'Rattle And Hum' entered the record store. "Why this US-tribute?", "Why so many cover versions? I do prefer new material ...", "This is not a complete album on its own ..." Hm, one might get familiar with this pattern – and in case of this special album sadly even U2 believe some of this bullshit written and said about 'Rattle', which is a great, great album, too.
Don't force me to write, what was said and written, when the four more experimental albums were recorded, that "chopped down The Joshua Tree": 'Achtung Baby', 'Zooropa', 'Passengers' and 'Pop' – but it was exectly the same, that some fans 'criticize' with the last two records. "U2 do wrong, this is too much reoetaing themselves, the lyrics are too weak, the sound is not fine produced bla, bla, bla, bla".
So listen to the tunes. When you fall in love with them fine. When you don't like them – there are many, many bands in the universe, someone can turn to ...