I based my rating on what I expected related to what I got rather than against other experiences.
Parking was abundant, but full relatively early. Don't expect the mountain to accommodate you. Get up there early if you want to feel confident about being able to park.
Views were amazing and varied and the incline was steady. It was a great hike to satisfy my kid's stamina and tempo, providing him with nice spots to sit and take in the view while he waited for me to catch up. It was crowded, but the crowds were great with regard to variety of abilities and ages. You'd see folks who had clearly been out for a few days and those that rarely get on the trails. Be prepared for lots of sun exposure and bring water. You will not be protected from the elements by trees.
Also quite a few fat and happy marmots and particularly assertive chipmunks, which we were warned of due to their impulse to bite. Not a hike if you want seclusion, but not bad when it comes to seeing so many people truly enjoy an amazing mountain.
I love seeing and hearing all the languages of people visiting Mt. Rainier for the first time. Some of the groups coming up were comically clearly not prepared for the level of exertion that would be required of them, but luckily this is a safer trail than most for that due to mostly paved trail followed by a well tended gravel and dirt trail and proximity to Paradise facilities. I even had the luck of running into a Dutch family who had been touring the country in a caravan. It's always fun to surprise someone with a greeting and talk about their journey in our shared language. The kids were super cute.
On the heartbreaking side if things, I hadn't been up that particularly trail, so close to the Nisqually Glacier in many years. It was devastating to see up close how much of it was gone. Definitely still feeling the grief on that.
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