I don't understand how anyone could feel this way. Pink Lady and Honeycrisp are so much better than Red Delicious they may as well not even be the same fruit. I'll never eat a Red Delicious again.
It's almost certainly about location. Maybe there's some climate where good-tasting Red Delicious grows.
I find that Fuji apples in the US are fairly bland, but when I was in Japan I had one from Aomori Prefecture. It was right up there with the best Honeycrisp I've ever had. Crisp in the same way, and just as flavorful in a different way.
Fresh Red Delicious from a local farm can be good. The ones in cafeterias or cheap supermarkets are beyond terrible. My point is that good versions of traditional varieties can be very good, even though they are less sweet.
