Mal is supposed to be the loveable handsome rogue figure, there are more than a few direct parallels ripped from Han Solo, and he has a massive fanbase (who were very happy when he walks around naked in later episodes).

I mean, I don't fancy him either, but until recently that was a given anyway...

*loads scrabble game*

Ouch. I think I prefer games of scrabble playe dwith the house rule of "you must know what the word means", but I suspect you do anyway...