You know, usually I too tend to lean towards direct, realistic (if somewhat arrogant) characters who aren't afraid to speak up and are practical and cool-headed in combat, but there is something about Sasuke that just doesn't sit well with me - namely, his constant change of goals, sides etc. Now I understand that it is one of the points of his character, his so called purity that has been pointed out several times ("he is like a canvas"), and I have nothing against it since it's a consistent trait, but to me, loyalty and dedication to one goal or place seems pretty important when picking faves.
Sure, Sasuke had that "to kill a certain man" thing going on for a while, but he was driven by revenge, not loyalty. So while I can say that I like the way Sasuke is written I wouldn't count him among characters that I really like (though he is above the mass of characters that I don't care about, so to say).