One thing A380 isn't is a pi$$ing contest. It's a sensible, evolutionary response to a requirement to replace now ageing 747s with a more modern, higher-capacity aircraft which fits in the same 80m box, and which can use existing airport infrastructure, and (and I'll write this slowly so the Boeing-is-best boys can understand) with lower-seat mile costs than any extant airliner, and with the ability to turn a profit for its owners when operating with a typical 747-load of pax.
Those are "the true merits of the 380" we don't have to wait to see "just how much of an advance it really is". Technologically, it's not much of an advance. Commercially, however, it's a winner.
It's not all that ground-breaking, except arguably in terms of size - but even there, the big 'leap' came with the 747. That's why it's so sad that Boeing missed the boat in designing a competitor. It's not a case of Boeing waiting and throwing spanners - they've already missed the boat. Short of a world recession and catastrophic collapse in capacity demand, the A380's here already.