“BBQ in any one area isn’t better or worse, just different.”
I disagree with that. I travel the country and seek out BBQ wherever I roam. In the last 3 years I’ve had it in KC, St, Louis, all the regions of NC, SC, GA, Memphis, TN, OH, VA, WV, OR, WA, MT, SD, KS, AZ, NM, various places in TX, CO, MO, AR, KY, LA, CA, PA, and I am sure I am missing some. Some areas generally have good BBQ, and some, the BBQ generally just sucks.
Now, if you want to talk about the different styles, now you have something where it’s not necessarily good or bad, just different. I strongly prefer Eastern NC over Lexington, but both are good BBQ. Not bad or good, just different.
But OH BBQ? It sucks. It’s pathetic. I’m sure IL BBQ would be the same, but I don’t buy anything in IL unless I have to. I stop there to leave deposits of body waste on occasion, but travel right on through.
You’re still posting about your personal preferences. Do the locals in your disliked areas share your sentiments about their cuisine? Also are you talking local cuisine or just people trying to run a bbq joint?