Peace Sells is probably my #2 Megadeth record. It's probably not a coincidence that is also the second record of theirs I heard.
My journey was basically, obsession with Metallica from mid 2002 - early 2004. My brother gave me a copy of Rust in Peace. Loved it, then got Peace Sells followed by So Far, So Good. For the next few years I only listened to those three albums.
Around 2006 a friend lent me a copy of Countdown. I thought Symphony of Destruction was OK, but it didn't do a lot for me. 2007 was the year I first bought a new 'Deth album upon release (United Abominations) and I LOVED IT! I think it is severely underrated, and possibly my #3 ranked album.
After that I kinda went back and filled in some of the gaps, as well as keeping up with newer releases. The first three albums I owned will always hold a special place in my heart, even though I really love some of the 00s records.
Peace Sells is actually the only one I have on vinyl so far, but it is damn near perfect. It will never reach the heights that Rust does, for me, but I still crank it often enough.
Zantera, in regards to your comparison to Megadeth's contemporaries, and their second albums, I'd say Peace Sells struggles to live up to Ride the Lightning (which on some days I consider my all time favourite metal album). I think it is leagues ahead of Hell Awaits and Spreading the Disease though.
Great post and I'm interested to hear your opinions on album number 3, I've always really liked it.