I really don't understand why people don't like Mysteries of the Moonsea, unless it just wasn't what people were expecting.
It's absolutely perfect for me. I really like short adventures, almost like adventurettes, because I just don't have the time anymore to play through something even 32 pages long (it takes us months and the players get bored). This kind of thing cuts the whole deal up into fun, easy-to-digest bits that can be run in a session or two (more like fun, less like work). Take what you like, skip what you don't like. Plus, we get setting material so I don't have to make it all up in my almost nonexistent spare time. What could be better? Seriously, this is probably the most useful D&D book I have ever bought!
I am equally in love with the Basic Game boxed sets. What I get for my $25 is a series of short, premade "adventurettes", complete with all the maps in the form of reusable double-sided tiles, and all the minis for both pregen characters and monsters. Again, more like fun, less like work. As far as I'm concerned, it's a bargain! Sure, it's not cannon 3.5 (and frankly, I wouldn't recommend it to new players or DMs), but I know 3.5 well enough that I can run this stuff on the fly. I have been quite happy with both versions (blue dragon and black dragon) and hope they keep making more of these.