I guess tool is mostly responsible for pushing me into lots of different music, which in the end took away a lot of my interest in tool. Maybe it wasn't tool's music as much as it was being a part of the community here (among other places) and taking recommendations.

All in all, tool has been a stepping stone band for me. i've had several more stepping stone bands between tool and what i listen to now, but they're definitly one of the first.