smallville is probably one of shows that i have followed the most in my life. i always loved the early superman movies, but never read a single comic book in my life. since watching smallville and now superman returns, i have completely jumped into the superman universe. i have started buying superman graphic novels as fast as i can read them and frequent several message boards nightly. smallville can be a little soap opera ish, but i love the coming of age, great parenting, responsibility, friendship, and young love themes. my girlfriend has even caught the superhero fever from the show. she told me the other day that she caught herself defending superman against batman and spiderman fans, while at her workplace. so maybe smallville is offensive to some of the old school purist, but to us rookies it can be the start of a new journey.
I don't think its a case of purism as in plot details - for me the series rarely works because the motivations of Clark, Lex and Lana are often based on possession of or obsession on low brow goals - i.e. "being with someone, getting something". Maybe that works for some serials, but this is the story of Superman and, unrealistic or not, the comics always had greater purpose to its themes.
Some moments on "Smallville" have made me smile (the ending race between Clark and Bart on "Run") but generally, I prefer animated short series or stand alone mythologies like the first Superman movie over "Felicity" in a fictional town.