[tha16thletter]

Personally, I think you have to have both. Endearing characters to tell a good story too. One or the other just isn't enough. If I had to pick though, I'd say a good story is more important overall. If some interesting characters sat around a table doing nothing, I wouldn't be very excited. If some dull characters went on an interesting journey, I'd be more inclined to read that than the other example. However, to be clear, it takes two to tango with this one...