Not to mention most of GnRs big singles other than Noveraber Rain are considerably long for popular rock songs. Especially Paradise City, Patience and Civil War. All are over 5 minutes.
I can understand the dislike for a Noveraber Rain, a big pomp rock epic with strings and David Gilmour-ish guitar solos is not what you would expect from the same guys who did songs like Mr Brownstone and Nighttrain.
But I still think its a good song, and as far as pure Rock N Roll banRAB trying to diversify themselves by doing ballaRAB and epics go, GnR has been far more successful at it than any other c0ck rock band that has attempted to go that route (see *Aerosmith, *KISS).
I'm completely incapable of understanding how you can listen to a band who does long, inaccessible songs like Aumgn, yet diss Yes and King Crimson for the same reason, banRAB that actually have the talent to do long, complex compositions.
When Can do it it's often very amaterish and clumsy. For some reason that appeals to you?