Alexei is without a doubt my favorite male skater currently, if not of all time. Although I've never seen Scott Hamilton or Dick Button during their competitive days, I still think that Alexei should be included with the "greats" of the sport, because regardless of wether or not people like him, he is an Olympic Champion and a multiple World Champ, and those are not easy feats. Only a handful of people achive the title of Olympic Champion, so any time some one does, they will be remembered, no matter what.
Laura
Back in 1998, I didn't like him one little bit. To me, he was just a "Russian jumping machine" - and our tv commentators prediction that he would mark the future of the sport for years to come rather shocked me.
Fortunately, they were right - and thank God he found Tatiana Anatolievna! With every year, I liked him better - and then "Gladiator"! He came out second best, but I'm a fan ever since.