Yeah it's not great on it's own but it's a great ingredient. It also makes ketchup quite a bit better the twice a year I want it on something.

I prefer Frank's Red Hot as a ketchup replacement. Tapatio or Cholula for Mexican food, and Sriracha for everything else.

I actually don't like ketchup, but I'll use Huy Fong Sriracha as a ketchup substitute. It's got the sugar like ketchup, but it has additional flavor than just your standard ketchup bland sweetness.

What I think Tabasco excels at is dishes that traditionally are served with vinegar. The best example I've had is greens, like spinach or collard or turnip.

The small Tabasco bottle that comes in some MREs make all the difference