I'm coming up on 5th anniversary of my Aliyah. I'm from North America, not-religious, and never spoke hebrew in my life prior to moving here. I just liked it, at first because it was different and fun, later because it felt like family.
Aliyah was easy for me, i'm lucky. First 2 years I took turns loving it and hating it here, then the hate faded away and I love it 95% of the time.
For a North American, things here are a bit backwards. Arguments get you everywhere. Rules are made to be argued, bent, subverted. I guess that's no different from any other non-western country though. Also, they still use fucking fax machines.
I do not at all regret moving here. One day I might leave the country to spend my days somewhere "easier", or perhaps to have a family in a place that makes more sense day to day, but Israel will always be home now, and I fear moving away I'll just want to move back.
Tel Aviv/Herzliya/Raanana areas have the most english speakers, if you want to speak english at work they're best. Otherwise enjoy your Ulpan time. :)
To criticize the Israelis... hmm... so many things... well a lot of them are still knuckle dragging cavemen. Civility hasn't invaded all aspects of life here, and thus it's a "take what you can get" society still. I think people being polite and civil is probably the thing that annoys me most, but really that'll change in the next 20 years as more and more westerners come here. Already the french are making a nice impact on Tel Aviv with their culture.
Please do keep in mind that i live in Tel Aviv, and my comments mainly relate to Tel Aviv, which is to say, not like the rest of Israel. This place can be very hard on people, I think 75% of the english-speaking Olim who made aliyah around the time I did have gone elsewhere, but most of them left their hearts in Tel Aviv and were sad to go -- just couldn't make it.
My advice to you: if you want to be rich and have it easier, do NOT move here. Go to a "real country" if you can get into one. UK, Australia, Canada, USA, or Germany are top notch. Those countries are much easier to make a "wealthy" life. Israel will have your heart if you come here, but it's not easy to make a living even. If you want to live in a place where everyone feels like one great big dysfunctional family, we're it.