Quoted By:
There are many reasons, most always loop back to "genwunners" insistence that everything was better in the first generation.
In the Kanto arc she was just your typical short tempered character, nothing all that special. Her goal wasn't something she ever explored or even an interesting one, just be the best Water type trainer. She worked at the time but as the back then we had no one to compare her to.
Then comes Togepi. It hatches and slowly Misty's short temper starts to die, only ever being used to cock block Brock. Without the temper Misty had nothing to her character, Johto Misty was such a useless and boring character that it was a relief when she finally left.
So far that's not enough to hate her. Consider her overrated sure but nothing hate worthy. No the hate comes from her fans constantly insisting she needs to come back.
See the girls we've met since Misty have all been better characters. May and Dawn had their own quest that we got to see them work towards, love or hate Contests these two were the first companions we saw actively pursuing their goal. Iris' type themed goal actually had a title she wanted and while Serena doesn't have a goal of her own yet she is thinking about what it might be and has been entertaining without one.
But despite this people insist Misty was the best, that she should come back, that she and Ash are meant to be, that everything went downhill ever since she left. The mindset behind the OP image is why we hate Misty.