I like them. I've heard all of ABBA's albums, and I think they were a rare example of a band that improved with each release, or at least did not go backwards.
Their first couple of albums are basically lightweight sing-along songs. By the time you get to ABBA - The Album, the production has improved light years, and they are tackling ambitious songs like "Eagle", "The Name of the Game" and the almost proggy "I'm a Marionette". Many people regard their final album, The Visitors, as their best, and while I have only heard it once or twice, I tentatively agree.
As for whether they were purely a pop band or partly a rock band, I couldn't care less. However I do know that they considered themselves primarily a pop group.
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