I liked book 4-7 Rand best. He wasn't taking any crap but he wasn't wanting everyone to be Yes-men either. He isn't infallible. Everyone should get opinions from other people, no matter how powerful they are. He went downhill from there (though I don't blame him for much of it) and this book he managed to be even less likeable. I'm pretty sure I'll like him in the last 2 books though.

But now that I know it has a happy ending, I can probably go back and reread and see that evil-rand was kinda cool.