As a reader of fiction, do you...

[Eileen Schuh]

...feel disappointed with a novel if a main character doesn't achieve/learn what you wished s/he would?
...have no expectations or aspirations for characters but just enjoy passively watching their unique ways of facing life's challenges?
...like learning about yourself/human nature from fiction, or prefer to be simply entertained?
...find that if a lead character is portrayed as being weak, your interest in his/her story is diminished?

I'd really like to hear your responses to these questions as I am mulling through a truckload of suggestions/criticisms of one of my novels and much of the advice conflicts either with someone else's advice or with my humble opinion.

I want to write what readers like reading, so please help me out here, guys!