why do the puritans get such a bum wrap?

i remember in one of carms bulletin board forums some one posting this exact question. i responded that some of the reasons the puritans get such a bum rap is:

1. the world take notice when christains start living out the gospel inside and outside the church and goes on the offensive:

a. by mudslinging when they find nothing

b. by promoting their excesses,weaknesses,sins and extremes.

c. by advertising they are oldfashioned,outdated or unkool etc.

one further note i did not add but wished to is piggybacking on point b which is: the puritans and any great christian(s) we look up to like pastors,friends,teachers ,singers,actors,sports stars etc are christians yes but we must recognize we all have weaknesses and are sinners--so we must shun away from making our own popes and examing whatever they say and teach they say is biblical under our only final and binding authority: The Word of God and be like the beareans of acts 17:28