I realized that when The Triad posted their april fools joke around the time strikers 1 was released. "I don't know why so many people like this series. Is it because of the beamsticks, or the thin plot?"
It's the beamsticks. And judging from the fanart, I'm not alone.
I like Lina Inverse, too. Guess there's just something about being able to lob thermonuclear explosions around.