How many people stuck with it because seeing it was ...

Yes, staying with it because I agree.

I read it when I was about 22 and I've always wanted to see it performed. I was relieved to find a dysfunctional family that was also articulate and wealthy enough to have a summer house and a maid, even if the house was cheaply built and the maid was second rate. Made my own upbringing seem kinda normal by comparison.

What got me to stick with it both times was the amazing acting.

Yep! Watched it last night on TCM (no doubt you did as well), and I gotta say it was tough sledding for a good bit of it.

When I first read about the movie I thought, Sidney Lumet directs and Hepburn's in it - I need to see this one, so it went on my movie watchlist. And there it sat for quite a while because it's hard to find. Netflix doesn't have it, even in their DVDs by mail selection, which is ordinarily quite extensive. Then about 2 months ago I saw it was coming up on TCM and I put a big circle around June 1.

It's just so damn long! The acting is indeed tremendous, but after the 1st hour, I was really struggling to like the movie as the family's constant complaining and harping on each other really began to wear thin. But once night fell and everyone started getting drunk/high, it got a little more interesting and overall I would have to give the movie a passing score.

But yeah, I had to make myself endure it to some degree because it seemed like an important movie, and a rare opportunity to see it.

 HARUMPH!

Just saw Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne on stage and yes I stuck with it:)
The film as well!