I'm on a learning curve in all things sailing, having only been on
one once. It seems that the Mac 26 is a hybrid which brings me to my
question, is it the design/versatility that a sailer purist abhors,
or is it the quality of workmanship, or both?

It's the RAF. The Row Away Factor. When you get in your dinghy and row
ashore, do you stop to admire the lines of your boat or not? A boat has
great RAF if you take loads of pictures and hours to get to shore.

Mac 26 has no RAF, and probably no dink.
Gaz