I've tried it once as well and judging by what everyone else who's tried it has said, my experience seemed to be a bit less dramatic. I did it with a friend and we just packed a bowl with it. Took as big a hit as we could... held it in as long as we could, and then did it again. Right after that second hit, I was definitely feeling unsober and 5 minutes later I was very high. I didn't get any of the hallucinogenic qualities that everyone else speaks of, but I did feel like I was a 1,000 times more stoned than I'd ever been. Everything was aboslutely hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing. At one point, my friend who was sitting right in front of me (where were sitting indian-style together) took a drink from his water bottle, and it was very funny to me, so I laughed as he was in mid-drink which in turn caused him to laugh too, all the while spraying water ALL OVER ME! And I just laaauuuuughed!
Another interesting fact of this experience... my friend has a couple cats (we were at his house) and one of them is very antisocial around people it doesn't know. Well, I'd spent the last 2 years over at this friend's house a couple times a week and that cat never got used to me, no matter how nice I tried to be to it. When we were finished with the salvia, and were fully enjoying the effects, that cat came down for a visit. I noticed it and walked towards it. It just skimpered away rather than fully running away like it always had before. Anyways, long story short, under the influence of Salvia I followed the cat all the way upstairs where it finally turned around, walked towards me and let me pet it. After a few minutes, I picked her up and brought her back downstairs. She was purring in my arms and actually seemed happy. My friend was very surprised when I came back down with that cat in my arms haha.
Salvia wasn't bad for me at all and given the opportunity and proper environment, I'd probably do it again. It is pretty harsh to smoke, but it's not unbearable. A trip-sitter is definitely recommended, but at the very least I'd suggest at least doing it with someone who's done it before, especially if you've never done psychadelic drugs before.
Good times!