to like something popular without resorting to indie kid aloofness?
I wanted to dislike the franchise for the very same reason; it is beyond popular and the writing doesn't exactly put Rowling in the 'classics' section of literary greatness. However, I then heard about the revival of the Lord of The Rings and the Narnia books. Nobody would call Tolkein or C.S. Lewis 'vapid trash', but I imagine that, at the time, their efforts were less than well received for being fantasy. Having said that, I bristled at the news that LOTR had been voted as the Big Read #1; that's one of the only books I've ever had to put down because it bored me. But I cannot deny that Tolkein had talent as a writer, just as I cannot deny that Rowling can construct a tight plot and has revived interest in children's literature. Just because they're childrens books, don't begrudge people the right to like them ... it's like the snobbery that surrounds crime literature; for thoughts on that, read W.H. Auden's defence of such work.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I have read the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them, in the same way that I read the Narnia books as a child and enjoyed them. However, I am cynical about all this 'adultisation' of the franchise and the marketing that preys on children's pester power; those people are so pretentious, reading the books with 'adult' covers, as if they're embarrassed to be seen with children's fiction. Hell, some children's fiction knocks most current literature into a cocked hat; just read Malorie Blackman or Melvin Burgess to see what I mean.
Above all, when I go to see the films with my 10 year old brother and see the wonder and delight on his face, I don't begrudge Rowling one penny of her money or a second of her success. I would, however, like this sort of literature to be enjoyed for what it is; very well constructed children's fiction.
And as for Daniel Radcliffe, he seems like a thouroughly well adjusted young man; he may not be the best actor in the world, but well, he's better than the wooden (but gorgeous) puppet that is Orlando Bloom, and he has a decent taste in music. Let's hope some young Potter fans discover the wonders of Morrissey to take them through their teenage years.