Though it is true that the storyline is not great, and a bit shattered, when I compare this anime with things like No Game No Life, Geass Code or bryhindr in the darkness, I find that SAO is the only one that is True, and by that I mean the only one with characters I can identify myself with, and that is the most relevant quality for any piece of art in my opinion.
People said that the two main characters were crappy, that Kirito had no personnality, and so on, but I think it is the contrary. Kirito doesn't speak a lot, he doesn't express his expression that much, but that doesn't mean his character is weak, and I find the little changes in his features much more expressive than the overreactions of other animes characters.
In fact, SAO is the only show (with fullmetal Alchemist) that I could watch until the end without feeling bored, and that made me frustrated when I found out that I had to wait for another episode, and that is why I rated it highly, even though I have not a ot of elements of comparison.
Finaly, I would be glad to find a show that I can finally enjoy completely, so I ask the people that explained why SAO was a poor show what is better in their eyes, and then I will be able to settle wether anime is supposed to be lived (which I would prefer) or only watched (and then all the comments about the storyline and characters being poor would make sense to me)
