Shinji acts like a six years old... i know he had a bad life and everyone hates him (cuz he's such a crybaby) but still, he's 16, he should have gotten himself something similiar to a spine by now, or at least be mad with style, like Soujiro or Orchimaru...
Shinji got the chance to operate a gigantic robot, and what did he do with that chance? absaloutly nothing! he cried all the day like some newborn baby... he should have at least gone mad with some diginty, like a killing spring or 'lets kill daddy' thing..
i won't say i entriely hated him, he had a few good parts, but whenever the anime got serious, he looked like some out of place idiot, he should have left angsting to the girls...
and one last thing: even the most devoted NGE fan admit that he's useless, but they also say he isn't gay, just lonely...