Maybe you should consider the possibility that it’s not as “hated” as you think, considering it spawned three direct spinoffs and generally revitalized the franchise.
I’m a big ol’ dummy.
There are tons of interviews, news, etc. and actors and actresses + show runners involved with DS9 talking about its unpopularity at the time.
You know what, I misinterpreted your comment.
Though I do think “hated” is a bit much - DS9 certainly was the least popular of the 90s shows, but…it ran for seven years.
I liked #DS9. It wasn’t just one big happy Starfleet crew. The interplay was infinitely more interesting for it.
By contrast, I hated #Voyager because even though there should have been tension between the combined Starfleet and Maquis crews, they ruthlessly and relentlessly suppressed even the slightest appearance of it. Also, I didn’t think much of Kathryn Janeway’s philosophy.
But for these very reasons, most fans seemed to love Voyager and hate DS9.