I think everyone looks at the race in a different way. Some really love the fighting between teams, some like the manipulation of racers, some like to see just out and out competition, some like the tasks, some like the places and of course the interactions both between teams and within teams.
I know for myself its the out and out competition, the places and the tasks and teams generally getting along.
And for this season I liked a lot of locations, loved Angkor Wat, was generally disappointed by tasks (though have loved the last two episodes tasks a lot), and was disappointed overall by the competition. I was shocked at the number of mistakes from so many different teams this season. Hated that on a show that a race around the world teams hardly had to transport themselves anywhere, but I did like many of the teams. Loved Toni & Dallas, really liked Nick & Starr, Mark & Bill, liked Andrew & Dan (though I do wish they were eliminated about 3 legs earlier, ect.
Probably my least favorite season overall since season 8.