I remember reading an old Rolling Stone on microfilm that described Ian Anderson as "a rabid dwarf with diseased eyes and a spittle-flecked beard". I guess back in 1976 they thought Peter Frampton or Elvin Bishop was more awesome than an evil atheist intellectual flute-blasting rabies-infected 14th level dwarf druid.
For comparison they also despised "Physical Graffiti" and Motörhead, and thought "Ammonia Avenue" was destined to be a classic album.