Yes, being able to glean new insights on each rereading is key. It's funny, I recently picked up electronic copies of McCaffrey's Harper Hall books because I was feeling nostalgic. I enjoyed the reread, because the Harper Hall books have the most depth of the early Pern stuff. I'd say they're light compared to stuff I'm reading now, but I'm glad the Suck Fairy didn't kill them for me. Not sure I want to spend more time in Pern though.