Yep, if I had to do it again, I’d stay in the smoke-free Marriott on the edge of town and don’t give a crap about the strip. Like any place, I’m sure it has its good and bad and I’ll do better to educate myself on what to do since my last trip was an education in what NOT to do.
One advantage to Vegas if you have a car is that you aren't far from a number of attractions such as the Hoover Dam. You can even take a short trip to the Grand Canyon from there.
One cool thing to do in Vegas is the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. At night there is this cool light show. A word of caution though: Downtown Las Vegas has had its share if crime. If you drive downtown, park as closely as possible to the light show and don't walk anywhere alone.