It wasn't bad at the time relative to what else was around.
And I don't even know what you're getting at by saying "all" successor languages copied it. Are you referring to how many languages use curly braces as block delimiters? Because that's not what's wrong with C.
People going in expecting a fun adventure with Willy Wonka and having a horrible time because it was created by an asshole trying to teach them a lesson...sounds like the plot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!