It just may not be your style of burger. Or it was oversold to you or you simply like Fat Pat's better. Fat Pat's has a real good burger. Also a very different atmosphere. FP's is a pure sports bar and Burgersmith will never feel like that. I disagree with your comparison of Burgersmith to fastfood restaurants (which I equate to McD, BK, Wendy's, etc.). And you can't compare prices in that way. I find it is in between fast food and a sports bar, but more on the restaurant side. And for that atmosphere and food quality, the price is very modest.
The "too hot" fries seems to be consistent complaint. I'm with RLM and like it. But they must be pretty hot for people in this area to complain about the heat. You should try the butter/garlic fries. Pretty flippin' good.