Though I agree that dandelions are awesome, your description of them also describes sow thistles perfectly. Not only are sow thistles often mistaken for dandelions (at least in their earlier growth stage), but they are woefully underrated as edible wild plants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus

In fact, I appreciate sow thistle even more than dandelion. People assume they must be bitter or even poisonous because they have white sap and can look kind of ugly in their late stage of growth, but if you pick them when they're tender they aren't bitter at all. If a person wasn't aware they were eating a common weed, they might assume they were eating a gourmet green from the produce section. I've used it to substitute spinach for creamed spinach, and though it doesn't taste like spinach, it was very tasty. But I usually just pick and eat the greens raw!

Specifically, I am referring to the "sow thistle" that is of the genus Sonchus. It is not a true thistle, and I think that there's other plants called "sow thistle" that aren't this one.

I've never tried using the roots and don't know whether they have properties similar to dandelion. Dandelions may have a leg up in terms of the root, but I'm not sure. Sow thistle is otherwise highly nutritious.

As someone who's been foraging for over a decade, I find it crazy how most foragers completely overlook this plant despite how it's both common and tasty in contrast to many of the more sought-after plants.

Here is a good article on identifying sow thistle which also includes a recipe:

https://www.eattheweeds.com/sonchus-sow-thistle-in-a-pigs-ey...

EDIT: And here's a video by the same author of that article:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWQ4nGraAdI