To the OP,
To answer your question dead on, NO the DR isn't as bad as all that. Many posters essentially wish they could put the best parts of their home town or country into the setting of DR, and are always complaining about something or other.
That's why you see the "I can't believe the LINES are so long," "Please help with inverter," "DR contractors are lazy crooks," "I hate all things DR and am only here for my Dominican husband who is perfect,"
aranoid: and "Need help finding good orange marmalade" posts. Many people have expectations that this country would - and should - operate like their country.
They've forgotten that the shortcomings of their country (real or perceived) is what made them leave in the first place. Some have also neglected to notice that the one thing they didn't forget to bring with them was their negative outlook on things, which is why they complain as much here as they once did back home. It's clouded their judgment to the point that they've lost sight of all the things that make this country a wonderful place to vist, live, or in your case, study.
DR isn't perfect by any means, but it's not some hell hole, either. Your experience will largely be what you make of it. How you create and exercise control over your own reality may be the most valuable thing you learn while in DR.
On to the positive things. There are a LOT of good people in DR and on this site. A few have chimed in, but one in particular you should pay closer attention to.
As I hope you're aware, Luis (Hillbilly) is - by far - the most knowledgeable person on this board in regards to academic pursuits. He's been here for several decades, much of which has been spent as a professor at PUCMM, DR's resident big-deal school.
With respect to the rest of the posters, his insider perspective is about as good as it's going to get.
Some advice on the lifestyle: If you have already started a program elsewhere, visit for a semester, year or summer to see if the school and country are to your long-term liking. If so, you can formally transfer down. If not, you can stay home and have some credits (and a much better understanding of the language and culture) to show for it.
Either way, you'll be better off than before.