I bought that original Japanese version DVD of Saikano in Tokyo last June (mainly because it was one of the few that had English subtitles). Anime is much more expensive over there. Now I have the first couple on American version DVDs. It is pretty good over all I think... it is one of those ones where the Japanese attitudes toward war and conflict start to bug me in places. Most anime that is not a big factor but in some it really bugs the heck out of me and I can't watch those shows. Saikano is not so bad that way though.
No, the attitude wasn't too bad - they seemed to concede that there are things worth fighting for, even if it's hopeless and ends up blowing up the world.
And the romance worked, more or less. It's not in my top five, but it's a nice change of pace. Now... tomorrow I start into Full Moon wo Sagashite seriously, I got the whole series off a co-worker.