The greatest lego theme of all time

Beyond the Brick recently posted a wonderfully entertaining discussion about the greatest LEGO themes of all time.  It was quite entertaining to watch the impassioned debate over the best and most important themes that LEGO has done over the years.  However, as I commented on the video post itself, I had to advocate to elevate their ranking of the Classic Space theme.  

I argued that Classic Space is the greatest LEGO theme of all time and deserves, hands down, to be in their Hall of Fame.  It is iconic and beloved beyond all measure in the lives of many, many 1980s LEGO fans like myself.  I would argue that it also was the springboard for LEGO's turn toward theme and subtheme differentiation in its sets.  It is also synonymous with the launch of the minifigure itself.  The classic space minifig is just about as iconic as anything else in the LEGO brand.  There is a reason why Benny from the LEGO Movie serves to channel the nostalgia of AFOLs past.  When I think of the "greatest" sets of all time, the Galaxy Explorer looms large in my mind.  Certainly everyone has their favorites, as their entertaining discussion shows.  Still, I suspect there are many like me who feel, with every fiber of their being, that Classic Space is the greatest theme of all time.  It stands transcendent at the pinnacle of the Mount Everest of LEGO themes and smiles happily at all those who came after.