"Which was another big problem with HDM. I thought the quality of writing was no better than any other kid's book,"

I think you're wrong there. I think that it is far superior to the writing in most children's literature.

"which is OK if that's all it is. But then the whole point of the book as I saw it was to say "religion is evil" - not that "religion can be used by evil people", but that it's inherently evil in itself, and good people involved in it are being manipulated. That whole theme became more and more heavy-handed throughout, and I found that a rather disgusting exercise in propaganda."

I found it a refreshing alternative perspective. As a Catholic kid, with CS Lewis' thinly-veiled Christian propaganda shoved down my throat, I thought it was really interesting to read a series which exploded the Christian myth, challenged the danger of marrying theology to science and government, and which questioned the concept of God. At least it was overt, and didn't have to disguise Jesus as a lion.

Works for me.