In the beginning, when they announced Enterprise as being "retro-trek", I was rather... doubtful, to say the least, about the potential of this show.
BUT, I have to admit, I feel much closer to the current characters who seem much more Human to me, as in what we are today, than Picard with his "Goodie two-shoes" approach where he never gets really pissed, never does anything that's "against the rules", etc...
I see in Archer an even more "human" version of Kirk. he gets mad, he curses (lightly, admitted, but this is TV), and he even tortured someone to get information!!! :D
WAY TO GO WRITERS! :D
As far as I'm concerned, a "not so canon" storyline with very great writing and more beleivable characters is better than a completely canon storyline that just gets old fast...
My main gripe with Enterprise: "Polarize the hull plating" is just like "raise the shields", except without saying "shields". and, firthermore, if you would charge a piece of hull plating, upon any serious damage, wouldn't that make it even worse, especially with energy/particle weapons like phasers?! x_x
Anyway, despite it's small but apparent flaws, Enterprise is, IMHO, one of the best treks out there...