It's not that I think the material if cliche. It's not that i think the material is in some way crap. The story was original, and entertaining. What it wasn't however, was incredibly deep in my mind. It was a good story with some good ideas, but in the end it was fairly light and shallow. Yes, it was a good story, and being as accessible as it is, it's a good intro into the genre. It is Ender's Game is really NOT on the level of Heinlein, or Phillip K. Dick, or Clarke, or Asimov, or insert any of the sci fi greats. All of these people Orsen Scott Card is often ranked ABOVE. I don't think he is worthy of that. At all.
The difference between Xenocide and the Hobbit is the Hobbit stands on it's own.
Keep in mind this is all subjective. I Like Ender's game. I really do. I just recognize it aint no Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, or Ringworld.