Samantha was/is my favorite aswell!
She was a really unique female-character in TV then, too. There wasn't anyone else so openly sexual, who talks about sex, constantly has (safe) sex with many partners, and despite her casual crassness, is very open-minded person (remember, she never judged Carrie for cheating Aidan?), with integrity & self-respect.
Nowadays it doesn't seem as ground-breaking, but then it meant a lot. The whole show, I mean. For me, Samantha's character and the close friendship between women were the highlights.