i've been on alesse for the past 5 years (and BCPs for the past 7)--out of the ones i'd taken before, it's been the best (in terms of littlest weight changes and moodiness)--but i have gotten the common side effects of long-term pill use: lowered libido and dificulty getting wet... (i've currently switched to the copper IUD and will see how that goes)
everyone i've known who's taken alesse is very happy with it (i stopped because i wanted to stop thehormones...)