I too am confused by the apparent lack of love for Cannondale.
I worked for Evans in the mid '90s and sold loads of them. I remember the shock when we pulled the first Super-V out of the box (especially the SV4000) and the number of Killer-V900's we sold (polished of course!) was incredible. Can't remember the last time I saw either......
I have just purchased my first bike in 20 years (my last purchase being a 1992 DB Apex which I still have), which is a 2007 Prophet 3SL (USA made). I resisted for so long as I am not a great fan of how bikes (especially the full-suspension ones) look now, but the Prophet to me still looks balanced. The ride is of course superior to my Apex, and at least now full suspension has moved on to a point where you don't change gear when you stand on the pedals (Super-V, take a bow at this point!). The discs brakes are fantastic, although a faff to bleed and I am still not sold on the merits of aheadset. The bike feels strong, smooth and rides well.
We (Evans) did have some warranty frames when I was there, and yes more than the steel manufacturers but not lots. The 90's were a funny time when weight was the be-all and end-all and from memory ended rather horribly with everyone chasing the last gram at the expense of safety. It is disappointing if a frame breaks but at least they are warrantied for life......
As a company I think they have pushed the envelope, and this will always divide opinion. At least they are a company you can have an opinion about, rather than disappear into the background. Lets celebrate the weirdness!!
Ade