The thing that I don't understand about people when it comes to Nero, Dante, and Vergil is that they are all affected by things differently.
Nero is angry, underestimating, and cocky. (Vulnerable)
Vergil is calm, calculating, and cold. (Invulnerable)
Dante is excited, careful, and playful. (Invulnerable)
If any of these personalities offend others then I don't understand what else could make DMC protagonist good. I like Dante and yet no one seems to notice that Lucia and Nero were given their own parts to play in DMC. It's practically, OP Dante interfering with their situation.
Good analyst.
Dante gets to get away with his character traits that may offend thanks to being the poster boy of the DMC series and the character that started it all (I know, sounds kinda messed up but just the way things are).
So another DMC game staring him would most likely be the safest bet here.
But fans tend to play colder towards newer characters such as Nero for example.
That kid received a lot of hate when DMC4 was revealed and after it was released, I'd say it was second only to the way fans reacted to Dante from DmC.
People went on and on about how he was emo and always crying KYRIE!!! at every turn.
They don't understand that he was like that for a reason, doesn't make him a bad character because he cries for the woman that he loves being put in harms way.
And he is angry because those bastards keep f*&king with the things he loves.
I'm not a big Nero fan admittedly, but I don't really dislike his character at all and would love for him to have a role in future DMC games, just not a lead one.
As a suggested earlier, maybe a supporting protagonist one.