I used to think the same thing about the Kirby romance books until I read the stories in the 2 volumes of Young Romance by Fantagraphics.
I thought the stories and art were great.
Like you mentioned, Kirby was definitely not Baker or Colletta in the female department and I could see people not being able to get over that.
While reading the stories though, the stiff, brooding creepiness of his females started to grow on me and I ended up liking them (similar to the early FF Sue Storm). Now if only they were cheaper.