Seems to me a lot of the wounds are self-inflicted. If you pick a regular AT, go blue, do the tutorial (choosing to skip the tutorial as a new player is pretty dumb), and then see the contacts the game gives you it's all very new player-friendly, especially once you get to Twin Shot, as that arc does a lot of educating and touring. The game is not always going to be easy for new players, especially when you get sent to Perez Park or the Hollows, but that doesn't mean it isn't friendly. Yes, there is a lot you need to figure out on your own, but that's true of all MMOs, and part of the MMO experience.
And I have to say, the community here is awesome, and is ready and willing to help newbies, which is more than I can say for other superhero MMOs that *cough*D*cough* shall *cough*C*cough* remain *cough*U*cough* nameless *cough*O*cough*.