God, yes. And really, that's a lot of what I look for in a pilot. I'll be the first to say that a pilot is a tough sell because you have to introduce the characters AND thread a plotline through it, but Pushing Daisies is a GREAT example of how it should be done. I was literally BOUNCING when I finished watching the pilot and I've been breathless for it ever since then. I saw the one episode and now I can't WAIT to "visit" with these characters again.

And even in sketch form, you're completely right; you know what these characters are about, you see actual personal change/growth through just that ONE HOUR, and there's enough personality infused through it to make you feel like you KNOW SOMETHING about these characters.