When you say "Mention Schneier," do you mean Schneier himself or Applied Cryptography specifically? I was unaware of any particular generalized disdain for the man, though I'm certainly aware of plenty for the book, which you've summarized quite well.
I remember in the intro to one of his later books (Cryptography Engineering, I think), Schneier actually apologized for making a book that was in many ways quite dangerous, and said his newer work was in an effort to make something a bit more focused on providing people with the firm foundations they'd need to do responsible work in cryptography.
That said, Applied Cryptography is a very inspiring book in many ways (which is both the best thing and worst thing about it, because it's not obvious upon reading it just how unprepared the reader is to act on that inspiration). I really wish someone would go write a new Applied Cryptography that dreams and inspires as much, but balanced with perspective and caution, and based on more recent developments.
The authors had some weird blind spots, even for the time, when Practical Cryptography (now called Cryptography Engineering) was published --- curves and authenticated encryption seem like the two obvious examples.
I remember in the intro to one of his later books (Cryptography Engineering, I think), Schneier actually apologized for making a book that was in many ways quite dangerous, and said his newer work was in an effort to make something a bit more focused on providing people with the firm foundations they'd need to do responsible work in cryptography.
That said, Applied Cryptography is a very inspiring book in many ways (which is both the best thing and worst thing about it, because it's not obvious upon reading it just how unprepared the reader is to act on that inspiration). I really wish someone would go write a new Applied Cryptography that dreams and inspires as much, but balanced with perspective and caution, and based on more recent developments.