I know its a bit late, but i never had a ps2, and after that skipped on 3 untill few days ago when i got an used ps3 with plenty of games.
I love how much MGS3 is over the top, with Ocelot meowing and such, but man do i miss crouch sneaking and over the shoulder aiming from MGS4
3 is my favourite game in the series. I absolutely hated how it started when I first played through, but once it got going and I got the hang of some of the mechanics, it just clicked. The story is great, the bosses are interesting, the setting is cool. It just hits all the right notes.