to Dire Straits fans :)

Hi guys...the fisrt time I heard the tunes of Dire Straits was about 7 years ago (I'm 23, by the way :)). It was a 'best of' album...at fisrt I hated every single song. The songs were long (Telegraph Road is about 14 minutes long)..my ears couldn't catch the melody, and I felt sorry for the money I wasted on the casette. But after a while I started to like them...and after I started to play guitar and know more about music, I realised that Mark Knopfler is one of the most talented guitarists/songwriters I've ever known. My questions for you, Dire Straits fans is: why - in your opinion - do Dire Straits sound great and very unique? and has anybody had this experience with Dire Straits..I mean from being awful to being the best band on earth? (I already know a few..can't wait to read your opinions