Indeed, "2112" has all the nescessary criteria for an emotional impact.

Not only does it have the palindromic significance, but it does use
the best possible visual stimulus.  The '1's have a sleek bar-like
quality, suggesting a central cage or box or fence-like object.
The '2' is one of the better digits, as it combines the natural
beauty of the straight-line with the curious curve on one end and
the jagged, pattern-breaking accute angle at the other.  The '2'
imparts the feeling of ancient script, while the ones give a
balancing modern flavor.

In addition, '1's and '2's are often thought of as interchangable
with '0's and '1's.  This gives it a modern, mechanically cyberish
binary symbolism.  In this age of freedom through electronic
information, the opening thoughts on this symbolism clash with the
boxed in visual imagery, and set up a state of mental flux, in which the
viewer's emotions bounce back and forth between the themes...

Lastly, there is a marvelous verbal impact.  When reading
"two one one two" aloud in the mind, the first "two one" can
blend together into a single meta-syllable, a word separate
unto itself.  This leaves the remaining "one" and "two"
separate.  Again, this unbalanced feel clashes with a
contradictory mental construct: that of palindromic
symmetry.  

The emotional strain of these three points build together
in a Collassus of psycholigical uncertainty and chaos.
The effect is stunning.

        -Gaurdian/ifio452@piglet.cc.utexas.edu-