Most people either love HOB or hate it--- personally, I will only go there if somebody totally awesome is playing, and that is not frequent any more. Like some others have mentioned, things have changed in the past few years-- and yes, the ticket fees are ridiculous and annoying.
Aside from that, I really hate the whole "standing room only" thing, especially since there is always some huge goon that thinks his Daddy was a glassmaker up front.
I really want to like this place, as it reminds me in some ways of the old Cleveland Agora, but just does not measure it. Maybe it is just the "franchise" feel of it that turns me off...but I'd prefer almost any other venue in town to this one.