The main focal point for you maybe.

The reason I and my friends are buying this game is because of its awesome steampunk style and amazing setting for a videogame.

if a normal person were to decide between this and say half life or halo or another great fps, what would make them choose this? it isnt atmosphere, cause other games have that. it isnt weapons cause other games have them too. it most definitely isnt graphics cause crysis looks absolutely gorgeous. it is the ai. the open ended ai makes this game different.

Uh...it's the steampunk.

Not that I don't care about the AI...the relationship between the Big Daddies and the Little Sisters looks amazing...as well as the general AI system. It's one of the reasons I'm getting the game. But the main reason is the content in the game, its setting, and the way the game looks basically. The way Little Sister's shadow worries you as she comes around the corner, only to be alarmed by the Big Daddy following her...that's what we love.

I don't know too many games that have this kind of atmosphere...other than something like Half Life 2...which is a must-buy for everyone anyway.  If you're saying Halo has what this game has, then you're crazy. 

steampunk wont make this the game for people. as awesome as steampunk is (i admit, steampunk is the best) it doesnt really change most people's minds.

Out of my friends, the ones who absolutely love this game so far like it because of its style and the setting. Those are the people who are definitely buying the game.

if they took out the open ai and the possibilities of it and made it a straight shooter, would it still be as awesome. and if they made it in some other place, could it still be just as great?

I don't know...would it? AI is just one of the things that makes the game great...you act like it's all the game has going for it.