My suspicion is that many people haven't forgiven GM for the EV1 debacle, and will probably always feel some residual ill will towards the company. It is pretty commonly known that the next generation LEAF from Nissan also targets this level of range, but there's nowhere near the antipathy (pretty close to none) towards Nissan and Carlos Ghosn.
The problem with the Bolt itself is that it is a bit odd looking along the lines of BMW i3 and Honda Element. There also appears to be no fast charging network that would enable convenient long distance travel. I just don't see an EV without long-distance capability as a Tesla competitor, even with 200 miles EPA range.
A 200 mile EPA car without a fast charging network still has extreme appeal, if the price is right.
The Leaf has a great amount of appeal and it's far under 200 mile EPA with no sizable fast charging network in the vast majority of the US. 200 mile EPA is really huge for people in cold climates, and it's great for people like me who will fly for most longer trips.
If cars are equal in all other respects, a Tesla would win out--but Tesla does indeed need to get a car out before that can happen.