I'm gonna throw out a guess that people may be using Palmer as a figurehead to represent the changes in the tone and 'nobility' of the UNSC and ONI, especially since we don't know much about her, and since she's stuck around as opposed to Del Rio who just sort of disappeared after his scenes.

: But I have to admit, it does seem like there is a huge push for this
: character, and it's kind of annoying (and sort of confusing). Obviously
: there is a part of the fanbase that loathes her, and I don't really know
: of another part that just goes crazy over Palmer stories.

Yeah, it seems like a very planned-ahead-of-time, bulletin-from-a-meeting- decision, not an actual response to the audience's reception. I would think doing more Lasky stories would make much more sense. I know I'd read a Lasky story. He seems like the one guy in the UNSC who remembers the good 'ol days. :)