D&D Player's Handbook, softcover: I'm happy with it. The binding and paper quality are better than most d20 softcovers I own and, like the hardcover, it's in color. The cover looks the same as the PHB, and, from a distance, even looks like the hardcover.
Premium dice: The dice set are four 6-sided dice, one of each of 4-, 8-, and 12-sided dice, and two 10-sided dice (percentile dice). (One of the ten-sided dice has the tens digit, and is rolled with the normal 10-sided dice.) The dice are a mixed color of black and another color, with the numbers outlined in gold. Unfortunately, my dice had far too much black, giving the dice a black, mottled look. It shouldn't be too hard to find better dice at the local game store. Nonetheless, these dice are a definite improvement over the blandly colored dice in the Basic Set. (You'll have to get your own Royal Crown dice bag, though!)
Character sheet: Only one character sheet is provided, as a master sheet to make copies from. The sheet is cardstock and durable. (You can also download this sheet from the Wizards.com website.) I would have liked to have at least five or a pad of sheets instead of one.
Quick Start booklets: These 8-page color booklets are quick start rules for character generation, simplified quick-start rules, and a short solo adventure (a "choose your own adventure" with some NPC interaction and three monster encounters). The Basic D&D set is obviously a better starting point to learn D&D, but these booklets might be useful to give new players an overview of the game.
Eight Free Miniatures: As these are random, your satisfaction will vary. (For those who play the D&D Miniatures game, this is an OOP Aberrations booster.) Myself, I received three miniatures which could be used as PC's (elf archer; gnome thief, which could be used as a halfling theif; and human with shield and flail; no spellcasters), two usable monsters (an orc and a mongrelman, who could pass for a goblin), and three exotic monsters (a cool Cthulhu-like Mind Flayer, a one-eyed spider thing, and an overweight grey guy in armor with an ice cream cone sticking out of his forehead). The paint jobs are quite good (more detailed than HeroScape), though on the small side.
The Box: Yes, the box counts. Your first impression will be that it's far too big for a book -- and you're right. The box is the same size as the D&D Basic Set, so my guess is that it's a standard size from the printer WotC uses, so is cheaper than a smaller box. Of course, it's useful to store your D&D stuff.
Conclusion: With the free booster and low online price, this is no-brainer for anyone shopping for a PHB, who doesn't mind a softcover. Use the miniatures to bribe the GM out of your share of the pizza, unless you find some use for an overweight grey guy with an ice-cream cone growing out of his head.
