I did NCS last year and thought is was reasonably good. I had fun and enjoyed the first week the most, even though I am not really an outdoors person. The social action project did get a bit boring and times and I ended up having to travel a lot. Overall it was a good experience I didn't make any life long friends or keep in contact with any of the people I met, but I don't regret it. The whole "you will come out as a changed person" is total nonsense, I started NCS as a shy unsociable person, 1 year on and I am still shy and unsociable.