I been reading WoT for the first time this year and I am most of the way through the third book now. I agree completely, however they capture childhood friendships perfectly, how you would give friends from childhood far more leeway as friends than you would friends made as an adult. Eventually some people have enough and cut them off but it takes time. I would look at his characters the same way you are meant to look at Luke or Anakin Skywalker, as flawed, whiny, teenagers rather than well rounded adults. And same as the Skywalkers, their portrayal isn’t perfect.

I also read that WoT is meant to be the opposite of LotR, Jordan positioned it as a critique of LotR. I do agree that few books at that point in a series (rather than say, a current Warhammer or Star Wars book, built on decades of lore) have the lore depth that LotR has, or such well rounded characters, but it had a lot more time spent writing and developing its universe.

I am enjoying reading it, but I set my expectations at wanting something better than David Eddings rather than something that for me is up there with Dickins.