Where have you been?
Sakura-bashing has been around for quite some time.
Or have you forgotten about her 'confession?' Those were fun times.
Honestly, it's because both 'communities' get off on antagonizing each other. Rather than simply comment on a character failing of Sakura's (be it the character or Kishimoto at fault) - they enjoy trying to slip in anything and everything that will get a rise out of the 'other side.'
I've seen good Sakura fans do the same thing in the "pairing wars" (because this is Twilight, now) - not necessarily because they dislike Hinata, but
because they want to piss off the people who think Hinata is going to end up with Naruto.
That's different than bashing Sakura.
Though, really - let's think about this logically. The series has been -heavily- influenced by world-views of 'religions' in the East. Taoism, Shintoism, and Budhism. Taoism is what formed the concept of Yin, Yang, chakra, the elements, etc. The Hyuuga are, also, directly linked with Taoism. Shintoism forms the basis for the Sharingan and its various abilities based around Shinto deities. Budhism forms the basis for the Rinnegan with the Rinnegan's abilities being tied to the various paths or 'tiers' of being.
The Senju seem to have a mild Hindu theme going on (diamonds on the forehead, giant-ass wood statue summon with a thousand hands... a budhist/hindu hybrid concept). The Uzumaki seem to have a sort of Mongul or even Hun (I know that's substantially western) theme to them ('barbaric,' brazen outsiders).
It would make sense that the clan most directly tied to the foundations of the series has some plot significance. Particularly considering the effort that went into the early interaction between Naruto and Hinata (which stands in stark contrast to his interaction with all other side characters).
Remember how there was a plot-oriented reason for us hearing about Obito? It wasn't just so we could be empathetic toward Kakashi - it was specifically to establish Obito as a character, and tie importance in with that history.
Those of us following the manga should understand, very well, how limited Kishimoto's 'story telling' space is. There's only one reason he ever spends five chapters on a character or family. If that isn't immediately obvious, it will become so. Sai was done few favors for virtue of his character - he was our window to Danzo and his policies/tactics (which directly relate to Itachi and, later, to his role in the Kage summit).
*shrug* The pairing is a favored outcome; but is not essential for the basis of the above.
That's likely due to the design of her character:
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She's Yin. Naruto is Yang.
Neither of the two can accomplish much of anything without the other. I make the relatively solid argument that the inspiration for the design of both Naruto and Hinata was from the Taoist concepts of Yang and Yin.
That is where her character is supposed to shine - is within the presence and interaction of Yang (Naruto) - and vice-versa. It's a little difficult to celebrate her character as a stand-alone. Naruto gets the advantage because we see and hear about him all the time - but a lot of his substantial character challenges are within the influence of Hinata (when he talks of being able to change destiny by defeating Neji, when he decides to uphold Jiraiya's teachings and find a way to end the cycle of hatred, and when he rejects the solution offered to him by Obito). With regards to the overall plot - the rest of Naruto's actions and strifes are water under the bridge. Kishimoto just takes us swimming in his character - and neglects Hinata (and many other characters) in that regard.
I don't know who in their right mind would argue NaruHina being canon at this point. It's just as canon as NaruSaku, NaruTen, NaruIno, NaruAya, Naru* . No pairing has been made canon.
That said - I'd have to say that the indications are that Hinata and Naruto were both intended, from the outset of the series, to play very critical roles in each others' lives. Whether or not that ends with an official or implied pairing is... well... not knowable until the series ends.