The Shape of Water is quirky but I like quirky. I know it's more artistic and less commercial (or less popular culture entertainment) and many won't take to it. Colossal (with Anne Hathaway) last year and Bright this year had many detractors too. Although this film was a better production than those two by a long shot IMO (but I liked them all). I was wondering how many 'prejudices against' that del Toro was trying to represent or put forward here, there was race, creed, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, class, income, physical handicap, sexual harassment, (even inter-species relations I suppose), I think he tried to throw it all in the film message. I suppose I had some issues too with the storyline, but heck, it's a love story with an amphibian man, if you go with that, I guess you let other stuff pass too. I think it will get more technical Oscars, it won't take away the major categories IMO except maybe del Toro has a chance for Director. It's not my favorite of the AA nominations but I still think it's deserving to be in the running.
p.s. I thought the set decor was outstanding. I thought Blade Runner would take some of those technical awards but Villeneuve has competition here. Watching The Shape of Water, I was wondering if the set was steampunk but I settled on art-deco. (bit of both though)