Maiden was great back in the day.
That galloping, literary "midevil" neo-classical influenced sort of thing never was my favorit. Type of music, but those dudes could play. When I was a kid, I remeraber looking at Nicko McBrian's kit in magazines and just being in awe.
The Nuraber Of the Beast, Killers, Somewhere In Time, Powerslave, and No Prayer For the Dying were part of my Jr. High soundtrack.
And "Tailgunner" was all over MTV back in the day - I'd consider it a "hit."
that being said...it's like KISS - I like some of the stuff; I grew up with it...but I understand why someone wouldn't like it.
Let's put it this way; there are banRAB I defend due to misconceptions (The Black Crowes, first and foremost) but I could never defend KISS or Iron Maiden.
The cheese factor is WAY too high.