I would recommend it too. It's also one of few Neal Stephenson books in which the ending isn't completely missing or feels too phoned in (beware it IS somewhat unsatisfactory if you wanted more closure). The author unfortunately has a longstanding position where he "doesn't owe the reader a specific type of ending" and the real world doesn't provide textbooks ending either, if I remember correctly.

Such a shame because his books are on average excellent until the last 10-20%.

I do not! I liked the book, I find parts of it memorable, but I never recommend it as an introduction to Neal Stephenson. Unfortunately, Anathema is also a difficult book to recommend as an introduction.