Salam Ibn Sadique! i would resist broaching up an entire new debate but yours is a gross oversimplification of a very complicated issue and id like to point out a view things. You see when interpreting history you need to be aware of the context. Firstly, the caliphate of hazrat Ali was marred by several unfortunate incidents: hz bibi Aisha’s war with him, war with mauwiya, the problem of hz Usmas’s murder etc. Secondly, what exact acts would be constituted as HATEFUL and what acts would be constituted as showing extreme LOVE? Would hz bibi Aisha’s act be termed as ‘hateful’ or not? Also what were the ‘majority’ of muslims doing at that time which hz Ali refers to? If believeing in the right of Caliphate for hz Ali is termed as too extreme, then what about the a certain number of companions who remaind steadfast to hz Ali right after the death of the holy Prophet(sa)? And since you keep refering to Nahjul Balagha id recommend reading the sermon where hz Ali holds the position that the caliphate was snatched away from him!
anyhow, the point is that dont jump to conclusions by reading a sentence or two hz Ali’s sayings! tc