At what point did you decide this game was awesome?

Fairly early on in the game, when you're still just puddling around doing chores/learning stuff at the McFarlanes Ranch.
I'd been out hunting and was on a ridge looking over the valley coming home when the first storm rolled in. I just sat there on my horse watching the wind and the rain build up and darken the landscape, I was just admiring the little specks of rain that get on the camera lens and thinking 'that's a nice touch', when the thunderclaps started going off and I was like, 'Whoa! This is amazing!!' Haha. Must've sat there doing nothing but soaking up the whole experience for like 5 minutes or something before I realised I was just sitting on my couch at home with a controller in my hand not really doing anything more than playing a video game. Honestly how many other games make you really stop and take in the natural environment like that?
As you say, awesome.

when u shoot someone and they react realistically

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Umm there were numerous points

-First time i realised that there were so many animals and i could kill them all
-First Cougar attack
-Getting lost in Pike's Basin and then a thunderstorm kicking in
-Riding back home for the first time and 'compass' is playing

Most awesome point had to be the first time i was just riding around one of the town's and a posse rode in shooting the place up...that was friggin awesome!

"Hold on, I didn't say anything about Solid Snake" (long pause followed by awkward smile)

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When I acquired the lasso an could catch criminals while still on a horse an drag them, in my opinion thats still the coolest thing I've done in a game

It was quite early on when I was just riding through the beautiful landscape, doing side missions and just enjoying the game. Although riding through Mexico and hearing Far Away playing in the background was absolutely amazing, I think it made me realise all over again just how great this game is!

I would say pretty much the first time I walked down main street of Armadillo and was stunned at how real everything looked. I felt like I was in a time machine, or at least looking through a time-transcendent lens, or something.

Otherwise, I would say the Fort Mercer mission. The game is tons of fun up until that point, but that mission - which I had been anticipating - took it to another level.