Ace is, actually, one of the few companions that I have not met apart from glimpses of her in the Confidentials (I've been going in a semi-sort-of-order, except, of course, I watched the Movie because it was so short). I've heard that she and the Doctor have a mentoring-type relationship, that he's very manipulative, and that I'll probably like her a great deal (I do like Turlough and his story -- I think the distinction that the fans make regarding Rose vs Everyone Else is on how much focus her story gets... of course, episodes/stories are a lot shorter (and yet more firmly held together) now than they used to be).

Anyhow, Ten/Rose probably gets blasted more than Nine/Rose because to a lot of people outside the ship they seem to have more obnoxious and frankly illiterate fans than Nine/Rose.

Ah, the kid factor. Billie and David are both utterly adorable and, thus (I suspect), adored by a large majority of the teen audience. I never take the fans who can't capitalize seriously, whether they're on my side or against me.