Rats are definitely wonderful creatures once you "get to know" them. =)
I have 5 wonderful rats. 3 females who wont stop licking and are very hyperactive(they always beg me to let them out of the cage for some play time), and 2 males.I haven't been able to fully socialize the males yet, so they are still skiddish. I have never been bitten by any of them.
Rat definitely make good pets as long as you get them from a breeder and not a pet store. Pet store rats are harder to socialize and are often more prone to sickenss. Where as rats from a breeder have been socialized since birth and more often a lot healthier.