I'm looking for a wide range of opinions of everyone's favorite type of hardwood for floors and explain why if you have time.

Solid 3/4" site finished. You can get any species you want, in any width you want, in any grade you want, and it can be refinished many times, will never "delaminate", and will last generations, and can be repaired at any point in the future even if you do not buy extra at the beginning. Those options are not available with any other type of flooring.

The only con is you cant have extensive water intrusion without causing a problem.

Id agree, hard to beat a good unfinished sanded on site floor. The options are endless and the product has stood the test of time.