Rift may not seem innovative at first, but it's noticeable later on. Very fun and addictive gameplay.
The soul system is a great because you can customize your class unlike any MMO preceding Rift. There are some balancing issues that need to be addressed because of the hundreds of different customization options, but that is to be expected.
What I really like about Rift are the developers. They've listened to the community, and don't come across as 'snobbish' like other well-known developers. This is huge for me!
Rift is not 'next gen', but it's still innovative. And of course, what really matters is that it's very addictive and fun to play.
I think Rift will be around awhile and look forward to seeing what else is in store for this new MMO.