In defense of Winry Rockbell (+ EdWin)
1. Winry always treats Ed badly (like hitting him with a wrench), even when Ed has a lot to be going on with anyway.
-Those moments are considered to be the comic relief of the story. It doesn't mean Winry purposely tries to hurt Ed. It means she's keeping Ed in line from being being idiotic or making stupid decisions. Besides, she does it to Al, too--remember when he was fighting with his brother? Yeah. Who was the one that told Al to get it together and make up with Ed? Winry. Who was the one constantly supporting them? Winry.
2. She cries too much.
-So? Everyone cries at one point. Riza cried when Lust told her that Roy was dead, and she is strong. Winry cried when she found out about Ed's pocketwatch (this shows her love), when she found out that her parents (who were doctors) were killed by one of their patients, and when she sees Ed and Al back with Al's body (tears of happiness). Those are perfectly normal reasons to cry for, especially for a strong yet emotional female character like Winry. Winry crying makes FMA seem more human (which is the whole point, is it not? the pride of humans versus Homonculus).
3. She only wants money from Ed for automail service.
-This is a ridiculous reason for hating Winry. Winry has known Ed her whole life and is his close friend, do you really think she takes care of his automail just for the money?
4. She's the weakest female- she doesn't even fight!
-So. effing. what? Just because she doesn't fight like Riza, RanFan, Izumi, or Mei doesn't mean she's weak. Heck no. Actually, she's one of the strongest female leads. She's clever, an automail genius, and can actually talk back to Ed (knowing he's got the biggest temper). She helped a woman give birth. She resisted from shooting Scar, who had killed her parents (that's pretty tough if you ask me). In fact! She even endures Scar's murder and tends to his wounds instead of trying to get revenge. So what if she doesn't fight? Does that really mean she's weak? Tell me, what other character do you see in FMA that DOESN'T fight and still is strong mentally? Huh? Her role in FMA is the typical but strong enough normal human--the civilian.
5. She's full of herself thinking she's the best mechanic.
-Another idiotic reason. She might have a passion for automail, but she has never said that she's the best mechanic. In fact, didn't she think that Mr. Tommy was better when she went to Rush Valley?
6. She forgets to do simple things like putting on a screw in Ed's automail.
-So she makes a simple mistake. Well, guess what? Everybody makes mistakes. She's a human, and humans aren't flawless creatures. Besides, she's a brilliant mechanic. Just because she made one tiny mistake doesn't mean that she's a failure, or that you should hate on her. Ed and Al made a mistake with human transmutation; I don't see anybody hating them for that.
7. She has big breasts.
-(And this is anime we're talking about...!) And so what if she's got big breasts? Does that mean she IS a slut? Look at Ed- he's got a gorgeous shirtless body. That's even more fanservice for the girls than Winry for the guys. Besides, pretty much every female character that's a late teenager or an adult have breasts in FMA. I don't see you hating on other anime girls that have even bigger breasts. -.-'
7a. She dresses like a slut.
-Wow. Well I guess Izumi is a slut then -sarcastic-, since she wears outfits with cleavage. -.-' She wears a tube top at home because that's her work outfit (and that's underneath her khakhis). She doesn't go around places in town wearing that. It's not like she's trying to show it off to anyone.
8. She's useless in the series--she's only the mechanic and Ed's love interest.
-Did you even read the manga? Or at least watch Brotherhood? o_o' This statement doesn't make any sense at all. As I've already mentioned before--she gave Ed an arm and a leg. She helped a woman give birth to a baby and saved both of their lives. She helped get rid of Scar's vengeance of State Alchemists. She cleverly uses herself as a "hostage" of Scar to distract the enemy. She gives Ed and Al constant support when they are feeling down throughout the entire series. She's plays an important role in FMA, and without her, some things would have been changed or left out completely. Does that sound useless to you?
8a. She is a character with no personality or substance.
-Do yourself a favor and go read the manga. PLEASE. o.o
9. She stole Ed from me.
-wtf. Sorry to break your tiny fragile hearts, but ED IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER. He's not real. Get it? Winry never STOLE him. She was his childhood friend and she gradually fell in love with him, and he her. Ed FELL IN LOVE WITH WINRY. He CHOSE Winry. Plus, they get married and have babies. So it's CANON! hah! And for once, think of the happiness for the characters and not your own.
10. EdWin is boring and cliché, and makes no sense.
-I'm not going to argue about the boring part, 'cause maybe that's how some people see it. But it DOES makes sense. They were childhood friends that gradually fell in love and got married. What doesn't make sense about that? Arakawa-sensei gave enough EdWin hints that you would have to be blind not to see it, unless you completely skimmed the manga. Ed is a strong and determined boy that has a short temper. He needs someone like Winry, who has a temper as well, that can control him. Winry needs a tough enough guy like Ed. EdWin is a very developed couple, so not cliché--and definitley more developed than some of the couples in shoujo mangas I've read these days. They have a well-developed relationship that could easily last a long time.
10a. Some people like AlWin, because they don't like the constant bickering in EdWin. But personally, I find AlWin to be a boring couple--I don't think Al is "tough" enough for her, if you know what I mean. Sure, he's strong, but he's more of the kind gentleman (which doesn't really fit Winry o.O') whereas Ed is the short-tempered fighter. Winry needs someone who can actually challenge her. I think of AlWin as a more brother-sister type of love...I don't think the pairing has enough chemistry or substance like EdWin.
...in the end, Winry is emotional, but strong and passionate... and she is a very developed character who plays a major role in FMA. So there. XP