Opposite for me. If it started with the Ticket Master, it would have confirmed my suspicions as a non-brony and I likely wouldn't have given the show another chance. Glad the series mixed things up, given the diversity of taste here.
Likewise. While I've enjoyed the action episodes a lot too (one of them being my favorite), I've traditionally liked more comedic cartoons better. And it's the combination that really appeals to me in MLP!
Kinda prosaic on my side: after all skepticism I just decided to give it a shot. I saw first episode. Then I saw episode #2. Then #3, aaand you know how it goes from here.