Well, if I saw orcas, mola molas, thousands of hammerheads, etc. I would indeed be wowed and would have no problem paying Galapagos prices. And it's true my trip was not in high season. And now that I've been, I also have little doubt that someone diving in high season would have to have had at least a better experience that I did. However, I'm sticking firmly with recommending the Socorro's over the Galapagos (I've yet to get to the Cocos or Malpelo), as you'll get a good portion of the idealized experience you describe at as much as a third of the cost of the overall cost of a trip to the Galapagos. The chances of a consistently good trip I believe would be much greater in the Socorro's where there is not such a radical difference in the quality of diving seasons as there apparently is in the Galapagos. I'll give you that Galapagos topside is beautiful and absolutely worth exploring, however being on a LOB you can't go on land, so except for a halfday when the trip ends, a person will need to give themselves more time in their holiday to go explore on their own. I'm no big fan of Cabo San Lucas where the Socorros boats leave from, but some divers might like to take a day or two to relax in a resort environment before or after a dive trip.
The overhyped label from my experience still applies in my mind, especially considering the incredibly high cost and comparable expense and difficulty getting there vs. doing the same thing in the Socorros. It's just my opinion, but one that comes from doing 20 or so liveaboards and diving in nearly 25 countries. If I were independently wealthy and could afford to go again, maybe I'd try February to see if it's as you've described, but for my money and recommendations to friends, I'd say go to the Socorros, hands down.
