When MSX and MSX2 came out, they mostly had to compete with the C64, which was (especially compared to MSX1) a lot more attractive in many ways (more users, more software, better sound, somewhat better graphics).
So what made you want an MSX instead?
The reasons that attracted me towards MSX2 (I never owned an MSX1) instead of C64 were something like this:
* It was new, more memory, more colours, higher resolutions, slightly faster CPU, more reliable higher capacity diskettes... So much new stuff to play around with 
* Choice: you could pick the MSX machine you liked best.
* I already knew some Z80 assembly from my previous computer (A ZX81).
* I guess I liked the japanese feel of the better games, which the C64 versions (of the games which were even available for it) never seemed to get quite right. There were notable exceptions of course, like Green Beret and Commando. But the fact that MSX was so heavily supported in japan gave the japanese games a somewhat 'mysterious' quality. The games seemed different and special. Later I got the more powerful ST, but none of the games on that had same special feel to it (although it did have some fantastic games).
* The sound add-ons like the Music Module + Keyboard were very attractive to me (I was quite interested in computer music).
* It wasn't a commodore, and I was the kind of guy that wanted to be different 
Things I was a bit disappointed with:
* The PSG sounds absolutely horrendous, especially compared to the fantastic SID
* Graphics performance seemed a bit lacking, sprite limitations, no horizontal scrolling...
* The number of good MSX2 games was seriously lacking (especially the 1st 2 years), so I ended up playing mostly MSX1 games.
* Non-japanese games were mostly bland looking spectrum ports on MSX1 but slower.
So what about you guys?
(Maybe this discussion was done here many times already, I'm sorry if that's the case)
) 
)