OK, given that everyone seems to have two pence on this topic... are game systems that involve traits bollocks?

Now a few of our games on here use them, but they also seem to cause ire in other people who swear off them. Is it because they're badly implemented? Poorly explained? Unworkable? Facilitate a type of play that jibes with some players? Or are they msunderstood? Tarred falsely by ignorants? Actually rather good? Capable of driving play that other systems cannot?

Discuss!