I don't know why people hate X8 so much. The most common complaint I read was that it's not as hard as the older X games. That is true, it isn't as hard, but it isn't a walk in the park, either. On the other side, X8 introduced a new, great villain, incorporated the 2/3 Maverick Hunters gameplay system, with the assistance of 1/3 navigators, and loads of unlockable stuff. It's a great experience trying out all possible combinations and searching for the hidden items, which can later be used to strengthen the Maverick Hunters.

I guess most negative reviews of this game are based on the "it's different therefore it's ruined" nostalgia logic. I suggest you try it out, and have fun doing it.