Serious question: when did the McRib move from a nasty, failed product of the 1980's to a pop culture icon?

No, really. Remember back then? This thing was terrible and everybody made fun of it until it was discontinued.

Then it was completely gone for what seemed like a whole generation. I don't recall seeing it in the 90's anywhere in the world, U.S. or elsewhere.

Only in the past few years do I recall the media buzz about the McRib, complete with stories of expats flying home to get them, morning talk radio shows holding contests to give them away, the Internet buzzing wildly about them, etc.

What changed? Oh, I went and got one today at lunch. Sort of tasty I suppose, but it's not like it's Oklahoma Joe's...