I never liked the season 9 cast one bit. Unpopular opinion , yes , but nearly all the teams rubbed me the wrong way. The seasons with the best cast go to 3 , 1 , and possibly the most " complete" cast , 7.
Season 7 had all you could ever want in the race. Everyone was likeable (save for Rob and Amber and Susan and Patrick). You had fun guys Ryan and Chuck who unfortunately were eliminated first. Uchenna and Joyce always having a positive attitude and being a loveable team. There's Merideth and Gretchen , who were the older couple everyone loved. Pleasant people whose personalities made them all the more loveable.
Ray and Deana were at odds with each other at times but managed to focus and concentrate on the race. Then there's Rob and Amber. They're the most hated team of this season. No team liked them and the methods they used to get ahead. Not stopping to see if Brian and Greg were ok is what turned me off to them.
With that in mind , you have the greatest amazing race season of all time