Well, this being the WordPress forum, your going to find a lot of people who STRONGLY disagree with you.
“This has got to be one of the worst blogging programs I have ever attempted to use.”
What other “blogging programs” have you attempted to use? I respect your opinion but calling WordPress “one of the worst blogging programs” is simply unwarranted. It’s popularity with bloggers is MASSIVE. WordPress didn’t become, what many bloggers consider the premier internet blogging tool, because it doesn’t work. You may have your opinions but WordPress’s success is an undoubted fact.
“Plugins do not work when installed, documentation too ambiguous…etc.”
Well, as many of us here can testify, plug-ins work extremely well. Now, if only you could give us a particular plug-in you are having trouble with, we most-likely would be able to help you. If you don’t like the documentation of WordPress, other methods of gaining support are provided, look around…
“If it takes more than 20 minutes to at least figure out the basics, before resorting to the documentation, then it isn’t worth deploying.”
Again I respect your opinion and your “20 minute rule”. However, WordPress isn’t all that complicated to figure out. I would say most people can have the basics down in 15-25 minutes. If your willing to abandon this 20 minute rule, you may find yourself rewarded.
“Largely due to the fact that I would spend more time trying to figure out how to set it up then using it.”
If you planning on running a blog, your going to spend more then 20 minutes blogging.
The bottom line- I can’t change your opinion. However if you stick around and ask questions you may find that people are willing to help you. I think you will also find that WordPress is a very powerful blogging tool.