It's a fun game but you are right, the learning curve is steep (actually, that's part of why it's so interesting). The DotA style game has been expanding into it's own genre with multiple titles recently trying to capitalize on the expanding user base. I won't bother wasting my breath about it's e-sport competitiveness but if you like fresh content often (more often than WoW, for example and at a fraction of the price or required time), it's worth giving a shot
Here's a short youtube video that shows some clips from the 4 "MOBA" genre games currently out or in beta. The HoN graphics are a little dark because the video maker is pretty new, but it's the only video I could find that has been given the publisher's blessing to be spread around.
I should have plenty of keys available to let you try it out even if you aren't going to stick with it but let me see what kind of feedback I get before handing them out too quickly. I think the game will probably go to open beta by August as well.