I went to a local (non apple) store to see if they had any on display. They didn't" but had just had a second shipment in (having sold their first to people who had queued overnight), so I bought one.
I've only had it a few hours, but it is absolutely brilliant - it's unbelievably light and still feels really well built.
For me, the mini isn't just the best small tablet - it's the best tablet, period!
Congrats! Your comment sounds like some of the reviews I've read. I already have 3 tablets, including a 3rd gen iPad, so I'm in no rush to buy one, but I've already bought a few online as Xmas gifts. I plan on checking it out once things settle down in the NE, and if I can get past the non-retina, I'll probably pick one up. If not, I'll just wait for the next rev with retina.