I've always wanted to visit China. I took a Chinese history course in college from an inspiring professor and in high school hung out at Joyce Chen's restaurant in Cambridge. China rocks.
But I can't rationalize a visit to a country that still has so many totalitarian, undemocratic cooties.
I feel guardedly optimistic though, that I'll be able to visit China and take my family there while they are still school aged.
They will try and rip you off, though. Not violently, but they'll try and trick you at literally every turn.
As far as totalitarian shenanigans, I did get to see their police in action on a few occasions (which they try and hide from foreigners) and I felt very, very thankful that I was an American.