The problem I have with Spore is the exact same problem I had with CoH. They tout the ability to create your own everything and then what you're really doing is setting stats for very simple mechanics, but hey, anything can look however you want. It can be deceptive.
There are two ways to approach the ability to create your own content: the way Spore did, or the really, really complex way. As you add depth to the game, you have to add choices beyond the Molyneux model of nice/mean. In this sense, Spore is not deep.
Let me put it this way: if you don't care about making neat stuff, you will hate Spore. Your buildings will look like cubes and your people will be blobs with appendages, eyes, and mouths. If you want an intellectual challenge, you'll get bored. If you want a toy, you'll have a lot of fun. The game's simplistic (damn it) approach is disheartening, but I'll absolutely get my dollar's worth from the game. People come into my room to play it all the time.