I hear that, sure. I understand why Kyle resonates with so many. Now me, my intro was GL/SILVER SURFER. I was and still am a huge Harvey Dent fan partially because I loved former heroes struggling toward redemption, so I suppose it's natural that I was more taken with Parallax than the actual hero. That right there resonated with me more.
As for why Hal as GL continued to be my preference as time went on... well, that's a whole post in of itself. I've actually written it all up, but I'm afraid to ever post it here. If there's one thing I hate in even a community as good as this one, it's GL-wank and Hal-hate. That's why I stopped going to DC Comics' GL message boards back in the day.
I'm not actually sure HEAT does still exist. *googles* Oh, the poor website hasn't been updated in so long, the HTML hurts. But looks like I'm still listed as a member in good standing! Honestly, they always used to say they'd disband once the Corps returned and Hal was exonerated, but when both happened, I think they stuck around after all.
You know what's funny? That full page ad in WIZARD is what got me into GL fandom and eventually HEAT in the first place. I remember how WIZARD would mock Hal fans later for doing that, which always struck me as super, super classy. Oh, the years and years we had to endure hearing WIZARD and Kyle fans telling us to "Get over it." My love of GL stuff has faded over the years, but dang it those three words still don't hit a button.