OK, now I feel like arguing with all the points you made ;)
Well when i came out, I thought it was one of THE BEST films I'd ever seen. I really did.
He is pivitol to the plot. He explains EVERYTHING to Neo, and you find out that all the other Ones went to him, so he isn't pointless at all.
Well I think that that's the point, to have 3 different groups of peole all against each other. Also, the other reason for him is it makes it possible for Neo to end the war, by making the deal with the machines to beat Smith.
I thought that was a genious twist, and was very unexpected.
I thought that seen was brilliant as well. The way it all mixed up made it very interesting, and it shows the thing that is happening as they say it in the speach, which I liked.
Well I would tell them to watch them all immedietly! :P
Well they will let people free if they want to be let free, since the Architect said "obviously they will be freed".
Now this is all my opinion, of course. Some people love the films (like me), some hate it, and some are in between (like ApophisV) ;)