All the older iron is getting hard to find. Anything good has been used up, scrapped, hoarded, or needs serious attention.
The LS is an amazing piece, it's readily available, and fits may peoples budget.
It's nice to have options.
I get it, it gets old seeing the same damn LS under the hood of everything but, it just works.
Show me a stock bottom end small block ford/chevy/dodge that makes 450rwhp with factory casting heads, is pump gas friendly, and lives for more than a season at a time. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's going to need a lot more work to get there.
You know which one I'd pick