I'm not sure why so many people still seek out the breed given all the issues, but they are very lovable, playful, loyal, and generally giant teddy bears. That is, until that one day when instinct takes over and they maim or kill somebody.
But other than that, they are generally a joy to own, much more so than most tiny dogs that are yappers and nippers. That said, there are lots of dog breeds that are joys to own and aren't known for potentially snapping one day and maiming and killing people.