Joining EQII?Follow

I played EverQuest for about 3/4 years, probably the best years of my life. Helped me get through the bad times, and sure as hell made every good online day seem like a wonderful real life day. It was a great game, and to me and my friends, a great life. I'll always remember sitting in the bazaar browsing wares while watching fights in the arena, looking for a group in BB, or CB. Finding your way through zones before in-game maps. Running into good friends and helping them with quests. Sitting in Faydwer just to pass time. And It's been a bit over a year since I quit, and I can't go back (it's not the same, if I want a different game I'll play a different game). I watched this movie:
http://home.att.ne.jp/surf/mirage/memory_album.html

And, well, I startd thinking, maybe EQII would be worth it again. I played it when it first came out for about a month, but quit with my friend because we didn't like the parties we were in (being a Ranger on EQI parties I could get along with would be essential on EQII). Well, I was wondering if EQII was a good game now, with a good environment, with a decent ammount of friendly people.
I was wondering if I could play this game and look at is as a lifestyle and not just an online game. Is there anyone who's just sat in Qeynos or wherever and said to themselves "I love this!"
I kind of just want some good feedback on EQII...