That happy combination of good grades and glowing reports is the best of all possible worlds. If I had to choose one over the other I'd opt for the grades.
When I was a kid my sister was a straight A student. She didn't get good comments from the teachers. I was a bit 'nice but dim' but the teachers praised me. My mum made the fuss of me saying it was nicer to be nice than clever.
I've just got my daughters one funnily enough, her's never changes and it is probably the same as last years with just the date changed. She is due a reward though. Just waiting for her older brothers to come, it's due today but nowhere to be seen yet.
I like the nice comments but I also like the effort grades (if those are good then they should all be achieving their potential). Our primary reports are due this week and I can already tell you what they will each say.
Landing my Os got me a trip to Lords to watch England vs the West Indies, the old man and I kept it up until I went to live overseas, an annual event to London for either the Lords or Oval tests. When I graduated with my Masters and got gainful employment, the bill for the couple of nights away then fell on me!