As a whole, TF2 isn't a good game, I love it to bits but in current times, it just isn't a good game. The dev team that work on the game is small and the updates we do get are minimal at best, "updating localized files" here and changing stuff with competitive medals there.

It was good for it's time, when I started it was around the time of BONUS DUCKS! which admittedly was a whole load of fun, back when there were pub servers, as soon as I saw my first TF2 video (Probably Star_ or Muslk) I fell in love with the art style and the mercs. There were updates reasonably often (give or take a year) giving more lore with comics, more weapons and Ballance changes.

Would I recommend this game back then: YES
Would I recommend this game now: YES (it's not as good as it was, but it's still the game that I will never stop playing)