Whoever told you that you wouldn't like it has never had it, or did not prepare it properly. Bear meat blows venison out of the water, as a matter of fact, my wife would prefer me to get a bear every year as opposed to a couple deer.

The secret to cooking it is marinading it for a couple days. Any olive oil based salad dressing will work, add whatever you like (teryaki, liquid smoke, garlic, soy sauce, worcesteshire sauce, etc) and let it sit. I then grill it to medium and chow down.

I can't count the people I have cooked bear for that have said "I would have said it was beef"...