I actually posted a thread a couple weeks ago on Episode 1, overall I didn't care much for the game, like you said I got fed up with the constant way I was getting chased, and a lot of elements seemed excessively trial-and-error, or even luck-driven... there were a lot of parts I felt to be really frustrating, too.
The way Alyx interacted with you was a high point, though, and she didn't become nearly the burden I expected her to be when I first saw that she was to take an increased role in the game (by making "witty" comments nonstop or being a moron who constantly ran into the line of fire, dying, like the usual character you have to escort in games).
Everyone says that Episode 2 is a lot better, too bad I have to wait till Xmas to get Orange Box (PC, of course).
