Gameplay, Lasting Replay Value - Overrated?

I wanted to write a muse on what draws me to a game, what I find fun, and the immersive experiences and flow I crave when playing games.

Along the way, as I thought about how often I pick up and put down games without ever playing them through, thus negating any possible argument about lasting replay value being one of my important 'good game' factors, I thought about the criteria of 'gameplay' itself.

What in the world is good gameplay to me? Is it the same as what others, especially reviewers, call good gameplay?

To answer that question, I have to first define the term and answer the question of "What is gameplay, anyway?"

I foolishly tried to google the question. At which point, the pit fell out from under me, I ended up with a dozen browser tabs open with various articles, blogs and university game design powerpoints, and I'm no closer to getting a handle on this elusive element of gameplay.

I think it's about choices and consequences, about immersion and experiences while playing the game, and also involves a certain amount of interactivity.

But I can't for the life of me get the definition resolved to satisfaction just yet, so this post will have to hold as a placeholder for now.