Same here for rifle caliber choices. I have tried to limit myself to 6mm and .308, with .22 being a given, but I broke down and bought a 6.5 prc a year ago, which I just cannot get excited about.
But why do people hate on other cartridges? Well, it goes like this. I ordered a Bergara B-14 in 6.5 PRC over a year ago from a shop in St George, Utah called Dixie Gunworx, not to be confused with Dixie Gun Works in Tennessee. (I think the guy was/is trying to make money off someone else's name) He claimed to be a "gunsmith" but was very tacticool heavy. I discovered them because a shooter I know had me drop a browning A-bolt off for a new barrel. The browning had a bad chamber from the factory, and beware of rocky mountain elk gun giveaways. Anyhow, the browning sat there for several months and I went in and ordered the B-14. After a long wait I finally got the B-14. The shop owner wasn't there when I picked it up and his employee told me "ah yes, he ordered two of those." The comment struck me as odd, and I think the guy was trying to tell me something and he quit shortly after. When I got home I scoped the bore of the new rifle and found it was copper fouled. Talked to Bergara and they are certain it did not leave their shop in that condition. I am fairly certain the shop owner delayed the sell so he could take both guns to the range and decide which one he wanted. Not wanting to deal with them anymore, I walked in to the shop and told the kid now working "that's my gun, I will be taking it with me." The kid did not blink an eye, or bother to verify anything and handed me the gun. I asked the kid if they even had a lathe, and he had no idea what a lathe was and I walked out. When the owner called me, I told he has no business claiming to be a gunsmith. It was at that moment I decided *&^! it, and bought my own lathe and it came with a gunsmith and lifelong friend.
So that's the main reason I don't like the 6.5 prc, and because of similar people claiming that the 6.5 caliber has magical powers and defies physics.
Does that make sense? If you want to make someone who is thrilled about their 6.5 PRC squint and scratch their head, tell them the 6.5-06 Baer is better.
Now, since store bought ammo means nothing to me, and barrels cost $50-$500 the skies the limit. The next cartridge on my list is going to be 6mm PPC, and......
6.5-06 Baer?
7x57AI?
30-284 Win?
7.62x54R?
6mm Donaldson?