So, first off, it isn't perfect, but:
a) This is pretty much the game I always wanted. I mean, ever I since first played the original Elite and my imagination painted a picture of how gaming could be one day. So, it's been long in the coming.
b) The attention to detail, the commitment to simulation and its atmosphere are, frankly, amazing. This game is immersive.
c) This is very much what - more recently back in 2004 - I hoped Eve would be or become. Of course, I would soon understand that Eve wasn't really a sim per se, nor did its economic parts have any relevance to the fictional/in-game world. The fact that you can trade and do missions that actually change the landscape and politics is so key and gives meaning to the simplest tasks/grinds. The dynamic economy/world actually makes this a great platform for possible RP groups working within the world - which is something I'd totally love to see happening en masse.
So, yeah, I think the game is pretty boss. In a way, still feels like a work in progress just because it is so expandable. Sure, the NPCs could be tougher, the missions could be a little clearer/"engagement friendly" and the legality mechanics might need some love (esp. smuggling/salvage). No experience with PvP yet.
While Eve does hold fond memories for me, the chances of it drawing me back in after Elite's launch have grown much more slim. For a long time, it attracted space sim fans simply because of a lack of competition, but now that the field has changed (and will keep changing with more space sims coming out to market), it will be interesting to see what impact it will have.