> It's like there's an online task force to make MySQL look like shit.

Yes, we call them the MySQL development team. For a long time MySQL was simply the default choice for many projects, and this status has persisted long after it was the best choice and is extending into the period where it is no longer even a reasonable choice. If you have a specific reason to use MySQL then go ahead and use it (and 'it is what I know and am comfortable with' is a reasonable justification) but there are few reasons to suggest it to someone else except for the fact that misery loves company.