Trying to remember because I watched it a long while ago, but I think episode 9 (if you make it that far) is the end of the first "arc". I would say try to get to episode 9 and if you still don't like it, then drop it.
I mean if you are not liking the first part, really no point in going for the second one. The first part is a slow burn definitely and is really a highschool slice of life afair.
Yeah, that's kind of judging the book by it's covers. It's been a while since I watched it but it's one of the better drama animated series. Also there is no harem, don't know where you got that from.
The bigger question is what happened between the Wachowskis' and Laurence Fishburne for them to stipulate that the writers for Matrix Online could do anything with the story as long as they killed Morpheus.