Just watched Terminator Salvation today, this being only the second time I've seen it and I had the same question in the back of my head, "why is this so universally hated?". I really don't get the negativity this gets at all. It was still a thrill ride for me and I enjoyed it every step of the way. I do get the backlash against the idea of having 'Terminator-Transformers'. But that was one scene and it didn't dominate the story one bit. At least they weren't talking and making jokes. I agree that it's not perfect, but coming off of T3, this is a huge step up.

I do gotta point out one glaring continuity error from that of Sarah Connor Chronicles   and Terminator Salvation. The mythology has it that Kyle is born way after Judgement Day, but in Sarah Connor, they have it that Kyle and his brother Derek were in fact alive before Judgement Day.