There's the weird thing with a cute, lovable toy being a villain.
You can meet Lotso and get a pic with him, not to mention that you can
buy Lotso as a buddy, not a nemesis for Woody. He talks and does a million other things and costs 50 bucks...which sucks since it doesn't really match the Lotso from the film. In any case it makes me wonder what children think of the dynamic of Lotso. Perhaps since Lotso was replaced it's easier to think of the Lotso in your arms as being a good one? I mean, he did actually feed the heroes into a furnace. It's a lot to bounce back from.
Smelling like strawberries probably helps.