The only thing people despise about Melbourne is their willingness to get around rules in and around the ruck. There are multiple more hated teams.
The tough penalty they copped was to be stripped of two premierships they won when it was revealed that they had won them while cheating. Sorry to burst your bubble but the Bulldogs, had they won anything, would have suffered the same penalty. They had an entire season's worth of points stripped when they were almost certain to win the title. The only differences were that a) the dogs hadn't won anything and b) they got caught while cheating not after the fact. No idea what their justification was with the eels, but the dogs are a club with a huge, huge supporter base and they had no trouble cutting their points.
Do you really think that Sydney wouldn't have stayed competitive without Buddy or Tippet? They've been doing in since Lockett kicked that point on the 96 prelim. They would and will manage without AFL assistance.
Everything you've said just reeks of the sort of 'you don't belong here' attitude that holds back any sport that seeks to expand itself.