Sajetto, I can not help but think I know exactly how you feel. I made the decision to buy into SSR sight unseen, but with a slightly different twist. My wife and I had been looking at
DVC since back in 2000 and were just swept away with the magic at the whole boardwalk area. The choice at the time was either BWV or BCV. Due to financial circumstances, we just could not afford to take the plunge and every year that we came back, it would heighten our desire to join, but the price just kept escalating. Finally in 2004, I decided to place a deposit after our second DVC tour over at BWV. I really wanted BCV but that was sold out through disney or you could wait for BCV points and not get the promotion. I was in Orlando 1 month before SSR was actually available to tour, all you could do was look at it across the water from DTD. Based on the fact I needed the promotion to save money, we made the deposit for SSR. For 1 year, I could not decide if I was making the right choice, so I did not sign the paperwork. I waited to see what kind of feedback SSR was generating and actual pictures of the resorts to help with my decision. Little did I know this made the decision even harder, because all I kept reading here on these boards was the exact same concerns and negative reaction that you are getting.
Later in 2004, things took on a much more serious nature in my family. My wife of 34 was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have DD5/DS1 to take care of. For 5 months, I was completely out of the loop regarding my DVC decision. In February 2005, with chemo out of the way and surgery/radiation just around the corner for my wife, I decided we needed to take the ultimate family vacation and get back to what life really needs to be about:
1. Understand how fortunate you are
2. Don't sweat the little things
3. Enjoy life each day
"Everyone is terminal, its what you do with your time and how you handle your flaws that defines you!" Craig McCarty
For us that meant going ahead with 160 points at SSR, and planning our ulitmate family vacation: 5 days at VB, 3 days on
DCL, 4 days at BWV and 3 days at SSR. I have to admit my first choice was to squeeze in some time at BCV because I can not stop being in love with that pool for my young kids but when I booked everything in February '05, that was the best I could due for a May '05 trip. Needless to say, we had the time of our lives on that trip. Vero Beach is an absolutely beautiful resort on the ocean, although it is quiet nearby. BWV was very enjoyable and its location was everything it was talked up to be. Now for my opinion on SSR, the decision I had deliberated on for so long and bought into sight unseen:
1. SSR is definately massive, a feeling you just experience when you are driving around to your room.
2. Once you are settled in, it does take on a very small community feel with the 2 or 3 buildings in your area.
3. We were in CP and had a very nice view of DTD.
4. I was absolutely floored that we could walk to DTD in under 5 minutes with kids in tow.
5. It took slightly longer to walk to the main pool/dining (i.e. ~ 7 minutes) but no where near as long as I expected.
6. I thought the quiet pool at CP was very elegant and the main pool was outstanding even though I thought it could be larger to accomodate the size of the resort. I am not claiming to be an expert here on this one, I was just envisioning a sunny 85 day with the resort at full capacity.
7. The room decor and ammenities absolutely called out for deluxe status.
8. I actually prefer the open hallways to enjoy the warm Florida air (i.e. we are usually escaping Michigan in the winter) and avoiding the smells of room service or garbage as we walk to our destination. I can see the downside to this if it is pouring rain.
9. I loved the options that DTD affords for dining/entertainment. When my family comes to Florida for a typical week, we can not necessarily afford to go to a park everyday, thus limiting how advantageous the BWV/BCV draw is to park proximity. I am not saying we will not stay here because we already have and will continue to due so in the future.
10. I wish SSR would at least add counter service like you can find over at Pop Century, I think this would fill in the gaps for the dining options they are missing.
11. I do think 10 years from now SSR could maintain a slightly higher value on the resale market knowing the other resorts are expiring 12 years earlier.
Finally I could not be more happy about our DVC purchase, I love the fact that you can stay at all of them and experience what each has to offer in their own unique way no matter where you own. By the way, I was able to book BCV at the 7 month window for Easter '06. Whether I will be able to continue to due that in the future based on the size of SSR will be interesting to see!
). I am happy at all of them but I really like SSR. I love the pools, the view of DTD (if I get it), the walk to DTD ,the colors of the buildings,the inside decor, Artist Pallete, parking lot out side of the door, and the fact that you can walk to DTD and catch a bus to any resort for dinner. 
