Funnily enough, I didn't realize you had it until after I decided to get it. I first came around to it via the review at
http://xbox.ign.com - I totally agree with these guys on just about everything, and when they gave it a 9.6 (second only to Halo with a 9.7), and I read the review... well, I knew I had to have it. When I came back and read this thread some more, I saw your mention of it and I was like "yeah! Another guy likes this game. I <b>have</b> to get it."
After the house fire, Giles and Matt bought me an Xbox, a TV and... Splinter Cell (I had been raving about how I had to get it). After playing it the first time, I was hooked.
The game is truly great in every way. At the beginning, even the training seems stupidly difficult. I started a new game at Level 6 (just to see how I would do) and I flew through the training in about 5 minutes. The game really progresses nicely challenge-wise (though the shootouts in the 7th and 9th missions can be frustrating), such that by the time you get to something, you have learned enough to know how to approach it. Simply put, it's one of the most well-designed games I've ever played.
Everything about it is stunning. As I've said before, this game alone is worth having an Xbox for. It's <b>that</b> good.