During the season 3 controversy with "Clark the asshat" and "Lex the woobie" my Clark friend was really upset after Memoria and ranting on she doesn't know why the writers are doing this. They made Lex so much the sympathetic hero of the story there.

Even JS has said that they are great at writing Lex's journey, but are failing at Clark's. And he made those comments during season 3. Of course season 4 didn't do many favours for Lex's character either