"I guess artificial sweeteners will probably always be demonized since they're produced artificially and people seem to automatically judge anything created artificially as bad and anything natural as good."

But sugar is not natural either. Neither is white flour or white rice. These items have had any nutritional value taken out of them when their "healthy" parts are taken away as part of their refinement. We all know the results of what these foods have done to us. The key to everything is moderation and making the healthiest choices possible.