Very, very occasionally, I will want to grab something late at night when nothing else but McDonald's is open. The choice in these cases is between going hungry and getting something from McDonald's to at least satisfy the hunger pangs. Invariably, I'm tempted by the Quarter Pounder, thinking that the thicker patty will be more substantive and satisfying than the Big Mac's thinner patties and extra carbs...and invariably, I am shocked at how bad they taste--and worse--how completely unsatisfying they are. They actually leave me feeling worse off than if I'd just have gone hungry.

All I can fathom is that the general populace is taste-blind. When traveling, I of course make it a point to seek out the best food (usually something special and unique to the area, if not something the city/region is famous for), and quite often, I encounter something that is the perfect trifecta of delicious, quick, and cheap.

And yet there is always a McDonald's or other fast-food restaurant across the street and there is always a line at said fast-food restaurant. It simply doesn't make sense--much like I'm left scratching my head at why there are so many people filling up at the Chevron across the street when there's a perfectly good Shell directly across the street that's 5, 10, or even 20 cents per gallon cheaper (yes! I've seen a 20-cent differential with people in line to pay ridiculous gobs of money more just because it's apparently on the correct side of the street for them)....