Not much surprised about this, meh... what's wroing with western fandom...? sigh...
In times like this is good to remember that NH fans are actually considered odd in Japan, at least last time I heard.
You know who are good professionals of Naruto? Those guys the wrote the Kizuna books. They put 3 moments between Naruto and Sakura in the love section and only one between Sasuke and Sakura, and with Hinata's confession they placed it under encouragement, as it was always meant to be.
I'll never understand how people take a girl liking a boy because she looks up to him as actual development towards them becoming a couple. It just hasn't, doesn't and will never fit with how the story is told.
People focus so much on Hinata's evolution as a character that they don't notice that as a pair Naruto and Hinata have remained the same. Hinata breaking out of her shyness sometimes and Naruto appreciating her efforts does not equal their relationship being different. They're still just casual friends as Naruto is with the rest of the rookies.
On the other hand, you can see the relationship between Naruto and Sakura evolving. They go from Naruto pulling up tricks to make Sakura like him and Sakura not standing Naruto's presence, to both of them wanting to protect each other's happiness at the cost of their own feelings. You see how they would rather suffer than to see the other in pain, you see how they think dearly about each other.
With Naruto and Hinata, it's still all the same. Hinata becomes more confident thanks to her admiration of Naruto, and loves him for giving her that opportunity. And with Naruto, he simply acknowledges her efforts and goes back to business.