Hi Dan,
I suspect there is a little background that we are not getting here because you seem a bit sensitive.
I think you missed my point. Yes, we all have likes and dislikes based on what
we have tasted or limits to oddites that we are comfortable with.
What I call a picky eater is
what I used to be. Someone who wouldnt eat entire groups of food based on assumptions and who would never try anything outside of my comfort level. At some point I grew a little self awareness and realized I was a source of irritation to my family and that I was mising out on some good stuff. After a while, enough people had commented about me that I realized; "Hmmmm, maybe its not the rest of the world that has a problem, maybe its me".
You may be totally different, but that is what I was.
You ask why being a picky eater is rude and irritating.....well, because it is. Truely picky eaters (and this may not be you) typically (and this is a stereotype based on my experiences) make it difficult for thier wife/mother to feed the family and typically require that food and resteraunt decisions revolve around them. I think it is normal that easy going people are more fun to be around whereas inflexable personalities, not so much.
Anyway, sorry to offend you. You asked for opinions and that is mine, based on how I used to act as well as a few people I have known.