I remember the first time I played Mass Effect, you're right about the whole "you can't just start playing it and not finish it" and by the time I was done with the first game i needed to play the next, and then the third.

Once you start playing you really want to know what happens to all of these characters and you can't really stop until you play all three games.

I never finished Mass Effect 3 though, my save file was corrupted after I was through more than half of the game and I was so angry/sad about it I couldn't bring myself to play again.

Anyway, great post and I hope your save file doesn't decide to die like mine.