Yes, they are. I love cats dearly and have two little monsters myself :) They are like any pet, really; you get what you put out. I've taken the time to train my kitties, play with them, use positive reinforcement in order to keep them in line, and they are the best pets I could ever ask for. They are both bonded to me and my husband and it's such a special thing, to know you have the 100% trust and love of a cat.
I think the problem with people and cats is that they assume they are "so easy" to own. While this is MOSTLY true, kittens can be holy nightmares and no, you cannot just plop a cat down in your home and say, "Well, that's it!" and expect it to just sleep and be lazy. They need just as much stimulation and playtime as any dog would and you need to take the time and put in the effort to BOND with your cat.