I think by this late date most listeners are firmly in the "Bob is Great" camp, or else consider him overrated and perhaps generally tough to listen to.
Personally, I love his work, (and even his much-maligned voice) and this latest epic is no exception. While I doubt it will win over any new fans, I highly recommend it to the existing base(many of us long-time supporters) who I think will find the old master in fine form. It is, of course, quite long, so I'm not sure how often even I'll sit through it, but I strongly encourage at least one good, attentive pass. There are some gems among the many freewheeling stream-of-consciousness-yet-somehow-coherent lines, references, and rhymes. In summary, it's fantastic. I look forward to hearing the rest of the album.