Informal poll/experience thread: How has it been for people here connecting to IXPs vs connecting to SPs for your traffic needs?

In the US IXPs aren't...all that common yet but they are growing. However over time it seems that people seem to be liking and connecting to IXPs more and more. How has it been for you guys/gals here? Have your transit costs gone down because your peering offloads all that much? Have you found that IXP peering is better than private peering? Have you found your general traffic experience to be easier to manage with an IXP vs an SP?

Lastly, if you guys want to opine and just go out and complain about things that need to be better then feel free. One can't be better without listening right?

Go nuts :)