I hate Lego Friends too. Not be uses it is pink. But because it is simplified, and has sadly bought into the glamour industry by slimming down and placing such an emphasis on looks with the mini dolls. I would have much less of an issue with it if they had used proper minifigs, which, as the collectable ranges show, can be customised and individualised to a high degree as it is - why the huge body I age emphasis for the 'girls' lego?
Dd2 has lots of the range. She likes the animal emphasis, and has the treehouse, jungle rescue etc. also the stables, I think. I love the lighthouse/airport/caravan/hot air balloon sets.
We have lots of 'traditional' lego too, and dd2 also enjoys playing with that. But marketing works, and when let loose in a lego shop, she gravitates towards where she is 'meant' to go, because she is heavily influenced by peers and society in general. Which means at times, she has the choice (before extensive intervention on my part) of sets like: baker, cafe, shopping mall, pop star, juice bar. A complete WAG setup, in other words.
I think it is a crying shame that lego has decided to gender its products so much. Mostly because it is making toys harder for my children. Ds covets his sisters lego friends, but come next year when he starts school, I expect he will be mocked for playing with the 'girls' version (just as dd2 is belittled for liking some of the traditional sets she has - she is having to learn, at 8, to only talk of certain things with some of her friends).
If lego had stuck to using traditional minifigs, incorporated a lot of the Friends ideas into the City range, and extended the colour mix in all sets then everyone would be happy.