I would agree that it isn't -the- greatest. I wouldn't even say it is the best Miyazaki/Ghibli. It is very good however.
What makes it even better still (IMHO) is the fact that it is a great intro piece for anime virgins. It is the sort of anime that you generally don't have to worry about watching with your non-anime friends when your turn comes to select the movie-night title.
Not a fan of Studio Ghibli films. (I'd probably get chastised for saying that)
A lot of their movies just bore me, but it's probably the Slice of Life atmosphere. And that atmosphere never clicked with me. Except maybe K-On!