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There seems to be a genetic component to how we perceive the taste of some of these artificial sweeteners [1]. Personally, I also think stevia is gross -- bitter and metallic aftertaste.

The best AS for me is sucralose (Splenda). I can't tell it apart from sugar. I've also never seen any results about it that would concern me, and it's been studied more than almost anything else we eat.

[1] http://news.psu.edu/story/284556/2013/08/20/research/multipl...

It may also be a matter of getting used to it.

Oddly enough, after so many years, I don't like the taste of sugar any more, it seems 'off'. Aspartame is fine.

It's natural, as opposed to unnatural things like sucralose and aspartame.

In the current zeitgeist, 'natural' is assumed to be better.

All natural, like arsenic, botulinum toxin, elephant seal blubber, corpse ichor and dying in child birth...

Since "eat less" for weight control is too hard, we are on constant search for stuff we can stuff ourselves with with minimum weight gain.