Why would your friends play this instead of one shotting their own version that better matches their preferences?

Well, the price at least in this case. But also, the shared experience presumably matters to more than just them.

Neither AI nor most players are talented game designers, and a future full of games which are mostly half-assed reskins of previous games sounds miserable.

Also, even the most talented game designers enjoy playing games created by others, in no small amount because they make different (and therefore more interesting) choices.