When you consider that it is Vista's successor, then that itself is a hype. People loved (still love) Vista for its interface. 7 has taken that a step further by offering better performance.

Also, though no one here is doing it, it is unfare to compare 7 to XP. XP is old. 7's true potential will be realised once the core count goes beyond 6 core (which are supposedly to arrive by year end).