I think its evident that L&C wasn't about Superman, so I don't get what's the whining and criticizing about Superman in the show.
L&C certainly wasn't perfect, but it gave us the best Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher) Clark Kent (Dean Cain) Perry White (Lane Smith, RIP) and Lex Luthor (John Shea) at least until Michael Rosenbaum came along, who actually mentioned Shea had an influence on him for Lex. I did not care for Cain's Superman, but he's only Superman for about what, 3 minutes?
As for Smallville "kicking its ass". Lois and Clark season 1 stomps all over Smallville.