> aspartame (yeah yeah not proven to cause cancer, but still not a great sweetener)

Compared to what? Aspartame is almost certainly the most studied artificial sweetener in existence, and the safety profile looks very good.

I presume the comment was referring to the lack of greatness in the flavor. Sucralose tastes much better, for one.

Aspartame tastes fine to me. I think it's one of those things that some people can taste and others cannot.

It definitely varies from person to person. I'm on the more sensitive side of tasting bitter substances, although I do like bitter foods like Brussels sprouts, grapefruit and kumquats, and I'm okay when food is sometimes bitter, as happens with cucumbers and eggplant, but when foods that aren't normally bitter are sweetened with bitter sweeteners, I really don't like them, even if it's a natural sweetener, like stevia.

Yes, I wish aspartame was used more.

I hate those stupid sugar alcohols, and stevia as well. Yuck.

I've found the taste of Monk Fruit to be preferable.

Monk fruit is quite expensive, so I'm afraid it will not become very popular in commercial products like candy bars and soft drinks. But for DIY it is certainly a nice option.

Thanks you for suggesting it.