Great post, great game.
Ever since BO1, I was always wondering why the developers couldn't bring back that CoD4 and WaW feeling for me. During BO2, I had pretty much give in to the fact that it never will. Only to be blown away by how Ghosts has fulfilled what I had been looking for.
I could analyze it all day long, but never be able to put my finger on what it is. The times change, people change, games change. I accept good memories are just that, memories. For Ghosts to answer all my wishes without actually knowing what my wishes are, is certainly an unexpected feat.