In the Hands of the Prophets

[G-Man]

I think why people find Garak more likeable than Winn is that he valued his people more than he valued himself. Winn always seemed to be in it for personal gain. Whatever despicable things Garak might have done, he did for what he saw as a greater cause. He made tremendous sacrifices for Cardassia, as Chuck pointed out in "The Wire." Winn seems like she would not sacrifice herself for larger Bajoran interests.

[CareerKnight]

I think why people find Garak more likeable than Winn is that he valued his people more than he valued himself. Winn always seemed to be in it for personal gain. Whatever despicable things Garak might have done, he did for what he saw as a greater cause. He made tremendous sacrifices for Cardassia, as Chuck pointed out in "The Wire." Winn seems like she would not sacrifice herself for larger Bajoran interests.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Garak, Dukat, and Weyoun were all show to have things beyond themselves that they were willing fight for or even put before themselves. Winn never really showed this, even what she did during the occupation could just be seen as calculated risks just to increase her standing with her people.

[ChiggyvonRichthofen]

I think why people find Garak more likeable than Winn is that he valued his people more than he valued himself. Winn always seemed to be in it for personal gain. Whatever despicable things Garak might have done, he did for what he saw as a greater cause. He made tremendous sacrifices for Cardassia, as Chuck pointed out in "The Wire." Winn seems like she would not sacrifice herself for larger Bajoran interests.

I don't know, you don't really know until late in the series what Garak's true motivations are. I think it's more that people tend to like mysterious, grey characters and tend to dislike hypocritical religious zealots. Garak had a bemused, if not totally sincere, affability, while Winn had an unpleasant, transparent saccharine quality.