A character has to be useful to be likable?
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Hinata is Yin. Naruto is Yang. I have further outlined that argument in that thread - that Hinata has played a considerable role in developing Naruto's character.
The perception that she is weak is merely a failure to understand the Taoist philosophy regarding strength. Hinata doesn't need to summon meteors. Wei Wu Wei is the way of the Taoist.
Perhaps you should remove your mind from the gutter.
In many other cultures - a holding of one's hand is a symbol of equal existence and mutual support. Hinata saying that Naruto's hand was "big and strong" is her commenting on the security she feels by having Naruto near. She's facing down the tailed beast that allegedly created the planet. She was saying that Naruto could make her feel safe even in that environment.
Part of the problem you're overlooking is the fact that it doesn't have to do with Sakura.
Hinata's character shows, perhaps, the most development of any of the Naruto characters. She went from being barely able to speak in front of him to telling him when he's wrong. She went from continually questioning and doubting herself to 'clinging to Naruto's nindo' to being her own self-standing character when reminding Naruto of his own nindo.
Kishimoto has a horrible time doing female characters justice (Mei and Tsunade are about as good as it gets when it comes to females who can actually boast combat victories) as a whole. Most of the time - they are 'fighting off panel' only to need one of the men to step in and square things away. That's Japanese ... and... most other cultures for you (even in Europe... especially in Europe).
Hinata portrays a sort of inner strength. Her character struggles against her own self-image at first, and she can be seen to 'take back' her confidence and self-image from that of others. It is a struggle that many people can identify with. Naruto's story is sympathetic, but Hinata's story is empathetic.
Sasuke's story is sympathetic - only a very few people can even remotely empathize with Sasuke over the loss of one's whole family.
She is one of the only Konoha 11 characters with a story and conflict nearly everyone can identify with to some degree or another. Gaara's character shows a similar fan response - though somewhat less enthusiastic because he's a guy (and guys are just expected to solve the problem by virtue of being a guy - it's what we do). People want to cheer for the girl to overcome the challenge and to 'win.'
Basically - Hinata has a dynamic character that actually develops throughout the story while being a character that I (and many others) can relate with.
