Hey Lakookoo:
I think we get so much "duff" about Atkins because he is going against our religious social belief of eating fat is bad for you.
My in-laws started me on Atkins and they are slipping off and I still hear them talk about how they have to cut back on their fat (rather than their carbs). They know better but I suspect they didn't read all of Atkin's book (argh).
My husband does the same thing - talks about reducing his fat rather than his carbs for his "health." I cannot totally convince him that the fats are good and the "empty" carbs are bad.