I smoked them for a year or so, they're a 'gateway cigar'
I still enjoy an occassional Tabak or Natural, just to mix it up. But the Blondies (which I used to love) I can't stomach anymore.
The LP stuff is pretty specific I think. I like the T52's better than the No.9, it's the other way around for most people. Never had any FFP's.
I think you can take almost any brand, and find a $10-15 dollar stick, smoke it and think 'well that wasn't all that great'. Now, they may not get the hype that DE does, but I think that's just good marketing at work. Regardless if we like the idea or not, good marketing is creating and sustaining a demand for your product. Which DE has done well, and in my opinion, a lot of their smokes back it up. But I don't think you're alone in preferring something else over their stuff.