i mean it's like pasta or potatoes or any other starch, cook it properly with some salt and it tastes fairly good, add some butter or similar and it tastes very good, then make it part of a suitable meal and it's REALLY good

Because actual good quality rice tastes good. Thai jasmine rice for example is fluffy, moist, and fragrant. Then there's all sorts of ways of elevating it like fried rice, sticky rice, etc. In Asia, rice is not just a side dish, it's a main component of a meal.

I fucking love rice. Sometimes I scoop some rice out of my rice cooker and eat it straight off the paddle. It’s also great with other things!

it's like bread. if you only ever saw white bread on sandwiches you might be confused to hear about someone loving a good sourdough or rye from the bakery.

It's cultural. If you've grown up eating it with everything, it's like a comfort food

I like rice but kind of like how I like bread. It's carbs that you put with other stuff give it more substance. On its own it can be OK (since its carbs) but pretty bland.

Depends on the cultivar. Rice does have different flavors, and some are definitely tastier than others, at least in my opinion. Japanese sticky rice is my favorite, and although I wouldn't eat it on its own, I can totally see why someone would enjoy it

I like it with garlic and salt. As with any food, it's unpleasant without flavouring. And you need the right rice for the right job - basmati for curry, glutinous rice for sushi, etc

Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something.

Rice + Burmese chili paste + cilantro + soy sauce is my jam

I love rice! I'll eat it as a snack often, like I'll just make some plain boiled rice (basmati and jasmine are my faves) at whatever hour and eat it at my desk. I particularly love the basmati variety because it has a nutty aroma and taste.

Aw man, you've never been broke as fuck huh?

As with pretty much any staple food. It's used as a filler. The reason you might not understand is that it can be expensive to eat only meat, veggies, etc. A cheap staple like rice, noodles, or bread is a good way not to die of starvation or at the least keep some money in your pocket.

If a staple food isn't part of your daily diet, that speaks a bit of privilege on your economic position.

Also I enjoy rice. It's neutral tasting but with a tiny bit of seasoning it's good.