My opinion: if you like things from hot topic then shop there! Who cares what other people think of the store, who cares what the overall style they sell is. Buy what YOU like. They also have very decent sale/ clearance prices. I get alot of my earrings there.
It's ridiculous that people get mad at the store for selling scene clothing. The store is called hot topic, they sell what's in and always have. For awhile it was emo before that it was punkish stuff and before that it was goth stuff..