I actually really quite like the vampire trope, I always have for no discernible reason, but for me, the fact that SMeyer has messed with the essentials of the lore is VERY far down on my list of issues with the series (except, sparkling?! really?!?). A few years ago, I might have had a bigger issue with it, but when Troy came out and all the Classicists in the world were pissed off about them messing with Homer, one of the Classics professors at my school, said, "You know what? I loved it because I can accept that since the Iliad is really only a myth/legend/lore, someone who wants to tell this story can rework it any way they see fit." Which is a viewpoint that makes a lot of sense and allows one to enjoy all manner of books/movies/tv shows even if it isn't "canonical". (See: Merlin, X-3/Wolverine).