I live in Indianapolis, and I've been to NYC 4 times so far. It's my favorite place that I've visited yet, I can't wait to go back again. The other "major" cities that I've been to here in America are Chicago (countless times), Atlanta, Philly, and Miami.
And the people saying that NYC is nothing special or "cliché" are only saying that because they've never been. It's only the greatest city in America, and some say, the world.
I did about 3 weeks ago and was slightly underwhelmed, but I'd previously lived in a megacity in Asia so that's probably why. The scope and amount of the people didn't really surprise me. Midtown, The Village and other places kind of left me cold because it felt like a museum lowkey, but I loved Harlem and The Bronx.