There is so much variety out there, and so many ethnic type foods. Some varieties come from area's where the ingredients are typical. But, when they get to the other side of the country, or world, the ingredients are hard to find. Just makes the search and trying the recipe more fun! Well, most of the time, but not always...
We do about half and half. Simple foods are great, but so are more complicated recipes.
Remember, for ever and a day, someone was usually around the house cooking all day. three hot meals. Some of those sauces, stews etc just simmerred on the back burner for hours; that is what makes them yummy. We're all so busy now days, that cooking all day long for a recipe is really hard to do. Even when we want to.