The people who call themselves Jeep "purists" just always hate the new model, no matter what it's technical specs. This phenomenon has been gone over time and time again...the CJ guys hated the YJ until it proved itself, the YJ guys hated the TJ until it proved itself, EVERYBODY hated the XJ when it first came out (now look, it's a legend!), the ZJ never got any respect from the Wrangler guys until recently, the WJ got no respect from ZJ owners until recently, the KJ gets no respect from the WJ guys...and don't even get me started on the FSJ's! It goes on and on...
Every Jeep owner thinks that the newest thing from Jeep is "ruining the brand" and on top of that the Wrangler guys think anything that isn't CJ-based isn't a real Jeep. Until that new model gets some aftermarket support, sees some project articles in some big name periodical and proves itself on the trail, it will always be made fun of.
The good thing is, from what I can see us KJ owners are making a pretty good name for ourselves. Overlook the marginal front suspension (which can be ever so slightly improved) and our rigs are just as stout as any XJ and built better.
I wouldn't be surprised one bit if in five years the Jeep community is priasing the CVT transmission as the best thing since air lockers. That's just how these things go.