I will say this, i have always been a scifi and horror fan, always have been. My first Scifi shows that i loved were the Original Battlestar Galactica, Space1999, and Buck Rogers. Granted these shows were not great, but they were campy and fun. Later on in my early teens i started watching rerun episodes of the original Star Trek series and the movies. I was hooked, and became a Trekkie since. I went to conventions, played Star Trek games, bought Star Trek merchandise, I was devoted. Then in 1993 i heard of another sci fi show and how DS9 was a ripoff of that show. I did not want to believe it, being a Trekkie, and so i did not watch the whole first season. But later in 1994, i decided to watch it, and after the middle of season 2 i was beginning to believe the rummors of ripoff. And by the 3rs season i was hooked and felt how this show is supperior in many ways. Wow what a great vast story, great cast and great visual effects for its time. Say what you want but this is a great show in so many ways.