It is being negatively viewed because the Elders scrolls is not a mmo and it should never be an mmo. You can't have 50,000 dovahkiins. You can't have 50,000 Hero of Kavatch's. You can't have 50,000 Nerravarines. You can't have the elders scrolls and have an mmo.
*moderator note: Do not flame other members every if you first apologize for doing so, it's still against forum rules*Of course there can be an Elder Scrolls MMORPG. However, you shouldn't play 'the hero' in it. You should simply be a denizen of Nirn. Just someone in the world, making their way in life.
A ESO mmorpg should be about one thing: Freedom.
Unlike so many restricting, flash in the pan copies of the WoW themepark, what I think players are really craving is a new world to truly exist and adventure in - not just a ride.
A themepark/sandbox hybrid would work best for ESO.
A game world where you create a character and from the start, the possibilities of what you'll become in the world are open to you.
It can be done really well with talented designers, programmers and writers on board. I'm not saying it's what we'll get but, here's hoping.
I will say though, that if this does turn out to be a WoW clone, I likely won't bother with it like many others.