I hadn't been to opera until five years ago when I started a relationship with an opera enthusiast.
I've seen some two dozen productions now, and I must say I'll never be a great fan, but I've noticed I miss it.
The whole experience is so therapeutic. The music, the settings. I just sit and allow myself to be. Some parts get me interested, even moved, sometimes I fall asleep for a few seconds.
 
What comes to the librettos, I think they're mostly simple and naïve. The stories may be tragic and even cruel, but still they're nearly always just something to be ignored, IMO. And there are so big differences between singers and productions. Even the stage set can damp the voice of some singers, and if the conductor isn't sharp enough, the orchestra sound can be too loud for the singers etc. I think you should try something like Tosca or Boris Godunov
before forgetting about opera. Also, the live movie broadcasts from The NY Metropolitan are fantastic! If there are theaters near you which have those in their program, GO. The technical quality and the footage from behind the scenes alone are worth the ticket price. I've seen 8-10 productions here in Helsinki, and not once have I regretted going. As you can imagine, the casting is always of the highest rank. I assume there are other opera houses doing that as well, but I don't know about them.
 
Addition (@ DrLumen): IMO, the fact that the performance is 100% "au naturel" without any amplification or other sound improvement gadgets is one of the most important things. They should have some modern aids for the referees in football (soccer),
but opera should be kept unplugged.