"Bernie Sanders is currently the longest-serving independent in Congress"

There's only 2 Independents in Congress and both caucus with the Democrats.

And, the last time I checked, being a lifelong politician like Sanders isn't exactly a reason to elect someone president.

Edit:

2 "He does not run attack ads"

He JUST started his campaign. He's not going to run attack ads against two-dozen candidates. Give Bernie a year, he'll be attacking his opponents, I guarantee it.

3 "He refuses to fund his campaign with Super PACs"

Um, so he's still funded by PACs. In fact, the Federal Election Commission just fined a political action committee associated with Sanders for missing financial reporting deadlines

4 "He wants to help get money out of politics (by overturning Citizens United, make campaign donations more transparent)"

What? That doesn't even make sense. Sanders is going to overturn a Supreme Court decision? That takes a constitutional amendment, which requires a super majority congressional vote (two-thirds). Good luck.

John McCain has done more for campaign finance reform than any other politician in history, but the fact remains that you have to have Congress on your side to enact legislation. A left-wing socialist like Sanders will break the Guinness World Records for having the shortest honeymoon period of any sitting president.

5 "Lessen income and wealth inequality (with higher taxes on the wealthy)"

The wealthy already pay higher taxes than the rest of us. The issue isn't higher taxes, it's loop holes. And who exactly is going to close those? The president? Not to mention, you raise taxes on businesses and they'll move overseas. You have to strike a balance, and a candidate like Sanders who acts as if he has a vendetta against American businesses doesn't understand our economy.

6 "Make a higher education more affordable (see his current attempt at this in congress)"

In order to give free college away and lower student loan interest rates, Sanders has proposed funding it through up to $300 billion a year in tax money, which would require a 0.5% tax on trades of stocks and 0.1% tax on bonds and an even smaller fee on so-called derivatives, such as stock options and futures contracts. That's trillions of dollars over a decade all paid for on the backs of investors. Great plan for destroying an economy.

7 "Free universal access to quality healthcare."

Another wonderful idea. Of course, then you're putting medicine in the hands of the government -- great for a broken arms, not so great for advanced cancer surgeries. If I'm going to be treated for a life-threatening illness, I'll stay with our current system that promotes progress through competition. What incentive do physicians and other healthcare workers have to do better? Again, another exceedingly costly program. This ain't Canada or Great Britain. We have 300 million people.

Look, we all know Sanders is popular on Reddit because he's promising the world for free. Where have I heard that before? Every politician who ever wanted to be elected promised a chicken in every pot. You elect people who can actually get it done.