I am ambivalent about pretend meat products (cooked in taco seasonings or whatever they’re passable) but there are substitutes like black bean burgers that are just good for what they are, not directly trying to mimic something they aren’t.

agreed! I think the morningstar ones get the vibe close enough - clearly not beef but you're still hitting the fat and salt and mouthfeel notes and it goes great with cheese and onions lol. same deal with their breakfast sausages too, great sandwich material