This question may need a complete do-over, because almost all of you are giving answers that are basically answering some sort of question about how the game's appearance was attractive to you. Most of these answers are of the "I liked the box" variety. They're great answers, but just not really answers to the question I asked.
What I asked was basically at what moment did you realize this was the game you wanted to devote your gaming life, or at least a substantial portion of your gaming life, to. At what moment, basically, WHILE PLAYING THE GAME, did you realize you were addicted to it?
I'll give myself as an example. I had played Squad Leader in the early 80s, and liked it fine, but it wasn't a game I'd likely have listed in a top 5 or top 10 list. When ASL came out--or rather, several years later when I was actually able to afford some of it--I dabbled in it, but that was about it.
However, after the 2nd edition rules came out, a friend and I decided to commit ourselves to learning and playing. The first scenario (Under the Noel Trees) we probably spent more time with our heads in the rulebook than anything else. It probably wasn't until the third scenario we played that the full IMMERSIVE and INTERACTIVE powers of ASL really began to make themselves aware to me. At that point I really became conscious of what a rich gaming experience ASL could offer. And at that point, I went from 20 mph to 80 mph very very quickly.