I totally agree with what you're saying about Himaruya. I think at this point he's just in it for the fanservice/cash. At this point I'm only into Hetalia because there aren't many other extensive personified nation comics. (I mean, other than Scandinavia and the World. At least the author of that asks people what they view their own country as)
I'm still into Hetalia because I felt head over heels for the characters (and their potential) and for the fandom (you are all sweeties)
That is why I'm almost throwing the canon away (example: I refuse to accept the England's tattoo canon when I have a far better headcanon that the fandom helped me build)
I confess that I never heard about that other personifications that you told me o.o Are they good? =)