A good story, or at least one that a person appreciates, isn't affected by time, so it doesn't matter when someone experiences it. Also, a good story will stand the test of time and defeat newer, flashier stories. For example, I would rather be tied to a chair, with my eyes taped open and forced to watch DYRL for the rest of my days, than to see Ultraviolet with Milla-what's-her-face as my date...
As for 'Eva, I enjoyed Shinji's realization that his life and happiness were completely his to realize, and no one else's; a valuable sign of maturity and development that the finger-pointing-population on this planet should take heed. I also liked the the sub-plot involving a shadow organization bent on reducing the human race into one singular consciousness.
To each their own though. Hell, I never liked SDF: Macross...