Yes, if you want a pia to root phone go HTC, if you want a cheap phone that we in all things root have started to make better, stick around. There are flaws yes, but this new incarnation of the warp is an attempt to fix those flaws. To consider the HTC ultimately better, is to not see potential in zte.
Think about it like this, GM is a huge manufacturer that every loves or hates but, has some what trust in, along comes this crappy little car manufacturer Hyundai, instantly getting the stigma of just being garbage, fast forward ten years and look at what they make now. Considering time tables, and the fact the automotive design would take longer that cell phone, you would see a similar situation brewing here. ZTE made a phone that wasn't perfect, FOR $200. Now they are trying to step it up a notch, yes at this point, maybe they can't compete with HTC or Samsung. But they are getting closer. I wouldn't discount them on one bad experience. Just my two cents