Being a huge bud light fan for many years before awakening my palate to craft/home brew, I can say that for me it was lack of trying. When I went to the store I would try to look for something different, but always ended up leaving with BL. I was "comfortable" with BL and knew it wouldn't do me wrong and i wouldn't waste money on something i didn't like. After I came back from Iraq, I did not really even want to drink again. I hadn't had a drink in over a year and was tired of tasteless beer. Slowly yet surely I would pick up a sixer or a bomber of this or that, until I discovered what I liked. Even during this period, beers I didn't like before became more flavorful. I developed my palate. Don't get me wrong, I will still drink BL at parties and the such.
When I hear folks referring to BL, etc as real beer, I just chalk it up to their lack of experience. They have not discovered anything better than their beloved BMC. My advice to you would be to brew all of the different varieties of beer to find what they like. The only downfall will be that you will be the only one to like it and be stuck with all of that beer...oh wait that's not a downfall at all. It just means more beer for you!