Rarity + good !> Common + good.

In fact, if you don't care for the social prestige, common and good things are better because they're more easily accessible at better prices.

That is only true if you as an individual don't place value on variety and novelty in one's food.

It isn't true for everyone, but I enjoy good foods I rarely consume more.

I disagree that you can't value variety and novelty while being thrifty. There are a lifetime of recipes using very common ingredients in completely different ways. I would accept that one major part is differing spices which are relatively rare and expensive (at least, if you're trying to emulate a variety of non-Western cuisines and you're in the US).

I think we are both getting a little away from the original topic of what generates "hype" or in other words "excitement"

Take steak (common) and lobster (rarer)

Both are good, and I would rather live in a world without lobster than one without steak. That said, if you asked me what which I wanted for my next meal, I would pick lobster.

This doesn't mean you can't eat good food with variety on a thrifty budget. But even someone doing so might be especially excited to have something expensive that they don't normally have access to.

Like those rare supreme clothes and stickers that are always hyped. Top-tier quality.