It's a measure of depth of information, I guess. If a cookbook has directions on preparing cream of mushroom soup, then it's really likely to have other very obscure recipes. Also shortcuts like dumping in a can of soup mean that the end result won't taste as good... not important most of the time, but nice when you want a treat.

It's not so much that it's an old way that makes it good, it's more that the long way just gives a much better result that has a really short shelf life. I want at least the option to make the better version.

For what it's worth, I am a supertaster, and I'm picky too.

Edit - please disregard this post