I'm a designer and I don't hate PowerPoint, I hate the fact that most users abuse PowerPoint by cluttering up the screen with endless novels and too many graphics that don't illustrate a point. A good designer can clean up a well done PowerPoint show in minutes by changing themes and picking the right typeface. However what's often really required is an editor to turn volumes of text into a story -- and that's a task that shouldn't be done at the last minute.

That is completely true, as well. But the software does nothing to discourage mindless design, which is some reason for worry

What designers hate might be what makes what other's (most of them) job easier.

that said, I myself have a "reset.css" template so that I don't have to deal with the defaults...

Please do share - I am sure a tonne of us would benefit