For someone like me who had never had a reef tank I was absolutely inthralled by my one gallon of water with some live rock in it. I spent alot of time with a magnifying glass watching as things started popping up and growwing out of the rock. Then again I have always been drawn to microcosms. (dwarf cichlids, pico reefs, spiders)
I grew up with the idea that saltwater was so difficult (and back then it was), but with the availability of good quality liverock, compact flourescent lighting, and miniature pumps I have not found it to be nearly as daunting as it was made out to be.