You, deserve it, for whining, about feedback, you received, from a publisher. Did you, seriously, expect them to, reply, "Oh my God you are the best writer ever you are perfect here is a billion dollars!" Get over yourself.

Uhhhhh, if a company replied in the exact language you cited, you probably don't want to be affiliated with them anyway. In my experience, big names resort to very PC, "Gosh-let's-not-hurt-the-poor-kiddie's-wee-heart-and-blame-it-on-the-lack-of-funds-cause-of-the-recession" rejections.

Maybe you can make a webcomic? After all, a lot of blatantly self-inserted characters make for 'successful' webcomics. See (but don't limit yourself to): The Least I Could Do, CTR ALT DEL, Dominic Deegan, Mega Tokyo...

You deserved it for thinking it would be a good idea to base a character on yourself. That's the most juvenile character-writing tactic ever. I hope you realize that now.

Take the hint

lol, FYL

That's what you deserve for doing a Mary-Sue. Only the stupidest storywriters base characters upon themselves, because they lack the creativity to do anything else.

Characters will ALWAYS be bland if you base them on yourself.

I find it interesting that the company slammed the character for being, among other things, a "suburbanite". While basing the main character on yourself is always a risky move and usually a bad instinct, maybe their negative reaction was exaggerated because they're pretentious and too-hip-for-the-room themselves.

Base it off of yourself, and then give the character a quirk or "Moe Point." Or... Write a parody. Those are good to start with.