As best as I can tell, the reactions to the Netflix/Qwikster split from both users and analysts seems to be mostly negative, with a strong dash of incomprehension. The three legitimate complaints that stand out for me are the separation of customer info databases between the two companies, the feeling of being "abandoned" by Netflix to a new company (as the service is still DVD user heavy), and last but certainly not least, diminishing content.
The first issue is frankly the most bogus of charges. For starters, if they'd announced close integration, the privacy brigade would be howling about this. This was a decision where they could not score a complete win no matter what they did. Second, be honest with yourself: How many times over the last ten years have you entered your name, your address, tweaked preferences, checked boxes, rated an app/pic/post/movie/song, customized an interface, uploaded content? We human monkeys have no problem pushing buttons, expressing ourselves and putting up with abuse. Just toss those extra clicks on the pile with the rest. Hell, if the interface is interesting enough, you'll get reams of social media articles written about you!
As for the second charge, there's not much to say, really. Assuming Qwikster can continue the kind of service Netflix got rich on, I predict at least another decade of at least solid business. I understand there's been a price hike, but I'm sure a lot of money was spent number-crunching it to optimum perfection. This really is non-issue. Sure, competitors are sure to show an increase in new signups, but again, they'll have anticipated this.
What this does is allows Netflix to hopefully exist forever as one of the primary media-delivery services on the planet. The simple truth is that broadband is cheap, and getting cheaper, and the complaint that the majority of customers still rely on the DVD plan means nothing when Netflix has a business that will grow its customer base constantly for over the next 25 years. And this is why I don't understand all the gloom and doom. This is textbook Successful Spinoff. This is exactly as smart as the WB/AOL merger was dumb.
Assuming that the studios don't bite them in the ass first. Not only is there the incentive for producers to share as little of the pie as possible, they've also spent a lot of time and money over the last 10 years trying to decree what exactly can be done with their product. That ongoing quest for control is Netflix' biggest enemy, and, of the three gripes I listed, this is the only one I expect to be still hearing about 6 months from now. The only logical conclusion is that they're looking at the iTunes Store for inspiration and hoping their algorithm and streaming tech is indeed a better mousetrap.