I think you're hitting a cultural barrier.

In my country, if someone brought me something terrible, in a professional environment, I would tell them it's bullshit, and go try again. And that would be fine and dandy, and expected. (I'd expect the same treatment of myself. And it has happened.)

I get the feeling, that in the US, you can't criticise. You have to use some political language to say you like it, whilst meaning you don't.

Linus is Finnish. He says what he means. And it's expected, and entirely acceptable.

There are a handful of nations around the world, where saying exactly what you mean is far more valued than trying to preserve whatever emotion someone has invested into their work.