Pointed here by yhlee, and I just wanted to add my READ THEM to yours. I first read the early books back in the 80s, and just recently reread those and all the way through to almost the end (I think I stopped with only one to go, for some reason).

I like them for all the reasons you mention, particularly that they're from the PoV of the sloggers and fighters, really, rather than heroes, and because it is so different from most fantasy. I also like the turns things take later, and the change in narrators, although I did miss Croaker a bit.