I'm always happy to experiment and try new burgers, but I've never liked bacon on my burgers. I like all kinds of burgers, but when I don't want to try anything new, my default burger is this: Two beef patties with two slices of American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and raw onions. I even like to put my fries directly on my burger. That's how I like my burgers. All the flavors balance each other out, and nothing has a texture too contrarian that it stands out like a sore thumb. The result is a rich, succulent sandwich with a bit of zing. The richness of the cheese, beef, and ketchup is kept in check to not overpower the eater by the mustard, pickles, and onions. The onions and pickles also add a lovely freshness to your meal. They have a subtle, mild crunch in contrast to the tender beef and soft bun but still integrate nicely with the overall texture and flavor. While this can also be accomplished with lettuce, I find most restaurants put too much lettuce on the burger. The only type of lettuce that belongs on a burger is shredded iceburg lettuce. While this can add freshness and mild crunch to a burger, I find it to be not as effective as pickles and raw onions, nor does it add any zing. The ketchup and mustard keep the overall experience from being too dry while adding flavor without a distracting texture. However, I find condiments should always be placed on the thicker top bun. Otherwise, it ruins the structural integrity of the bottom bun. Buns should be lightly toasted so that they don't become sticky and mushy when you bit into them but not so toasted that they have any distracting crispiness. Truly, this burger is so perfectly balanced that Thanos would be proud to eat it. Bacon always ruins this formula. For some reason, there are only two ways that bacon can be cooked: meaty and chewy or crispy. How many times have you ordered a bacon cheeseburger that came with chewy bacon? How many times have you ordered a bacon cheeseburger with crunchy bacon whose texture is completely contrary to the rest of the burger? While the bacon may taste good on a burger, it's distracting texture doesn't justify adding it to your burger. All it does is add extra grease and calories to your meal while distracting you from the rest of the burger. While the smokey flavor may be a nice addition, bacon's smokiness is simply too strong and stands out too much. It makes it harder to taste the rest of the burger. If you want smokiness on your burger, just cook the patties in a little left over bacon grease or put smoked Gouda cheese on your burger. If you don't think a burger is good without bacon, then your burger was never good to begin with.