YUP. This game is bringing the Pokémon world to real life - where EVERYONE does it and it's the basis of all things (nearly). People are walkin' around the park near the library where I work and catching, walking around downtown, around my house, in the fields, riding bikes in little hunting parties, etc. It's AMAZING. Hell, just the other day I think my wife and I interacted with two people randomly on the street for the FIRST TIME IN OUR LIVES. They were at a church trying to take the "gym" and I asked if they were winning (to which they said they were trying) and my wife pointed out how she got her ass handed to her in the same spot.
On the other hand, you've got people setting lures and robbing people at gunpoint (which may only be ONE instance so far, so not an epidemic) and even more people getting hurt by sheer stupidity (driving while playing, not paying attention). I almost hit a kid on his bike because I was RIGHT NEXT TO HIM and he didn't realize there was a car! Next to him! NEXT TO HIM. A CAR. Yeesh.
Like you stated, though: I think this is having more positive effects, than negative. I mean, sure, you've got the blind-and-angry folks who hate it because it's popular (and I'm honestly surprised there's still people who are like "I'M AN ADULT AND ME DON'T PLAY KID GAMES") but in the end, you've got people with a big thing in common getting out and about. That's quite a feat!