DD at the Dursleys: Why do people dislike the scene?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 157993

Magpie:
<snip> why people didn't like this scene, and as somebody 
> who didn't enjoy the scene, that was my answer.  I get nothing out 
> of it.  I don't feel like the Dursleys are getting any sort of 
> lesson so it's not satisfying to me on that score.  I don't think 
> Dumbledore's stepping in would have made things worse for Harry, 
> especially since we've seen improvements in the way Harry gets 
> treated when wizards step in.

Pippin:

We've also seen things get worse. We've seen Harry spirited away
from the Privet Drive protection, far from Mrs. Figg and whatever
the Ministry is doing to keep an eye on things, with little food, no
means of escape except a rowboat an eleven year old couldn't control
in choppy seas, in company with a gun-toting Vernon who is
clearly losing his grip. The wizards weren't able to force the
Dursleys to give Harry his Hogwarts letter, which was the goal of
all that interference. It appears that the  Dursleys behave in
unfortunate but predictable ways if they're let alone, but react 
to pressure by becoming highly unstable and dangerous. 

What I saw in that HBP scene was confirmation that Dumbledore 
was not in denial about the way the Dursleys treated Harry. He knew 
what was going on. It was his choice and he is culpable * if he had a 
better one.*

But let's get some perspective here. It appears the Dursleys are
unable to harm Harry physically, although they've tried. He's
been underfed, but not dangerously so. 

The most likely long-term effect of verbal abuse is said to be  
an increased susceptibility to anxiety and depression. I think 
Rowling has depicted that honestly, movingly and accurately in Harry. 
We see him struggle with depression in PoA and with anxiety in
OOP, and developing magnificent coping skills. I don't think
Dumbledore subjected him to abuse in order to develop those
skills, though I can't say the same for Rowling. She's got a
chip of ice in her heart, by her own admission. 

But we're talking about DD. If it was a choice between an increased
susceptibility to anxiety and depression or certain death at the hands 
of a psychotic murderer, which would you choose for your child?

Pippin