The 747 also had a difficult birth remember, those big new engines being a real headache in reliability terms. I'm sure once the teething troubles are out of the way then the A380 will be just fine, although I still think it looks like an aerial version of Jonny Vegas.
That said, the 747 revolutionised air travel. The A380 just means you share fart laden air with 500+ bodies as opposed to 450. Does that really appeal???