This is probably going to be a controversial post, but I think one of the main reasons JKR turned out the way she did is so disheartening is because Harry Potter is good.

I know people here like to criticize the series, and there’s been a lot of reassessment in light of what’s been happening these past few years, but I still think that overall, the story is still well written. Now, I’m not saying that there aren’t any aspects that haven’t aged well or that it’s completely above criticism, but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a good story. It became the best selling book series and (for a brief time) the most successful movie series of all time for a reason. I know people talk about marketing a lot, but I don’t think it would have resonated with so many people if it wasn’t well written, and I think most of it still is.