When I’m not here I’m often on a guitar web forum.

Just for solid wood (non-laminated) traditional acoustic guitars, there are six sizes, three or four wood choices for the back and sides, and one of four wood choices for the soundboard.

There are two widths of fingerboard, and two choices in headstock.

There are two types of wood finish, two methods of neck-joining, and three interior (under-the-soundboard) bracing schemes.

There at least three styles of finish color and also of inlay decoration.

Materials and craftsmanship domestic or import.

Ready made or custom made.

Cross multiply those choices out and let’s see…

Very many.

And of course each combination of choices has (mild or fierce) advocates and opponents -- for “worthiness” of tone, for value, and for utility.
Oh yes and for attractiveness and for appropriateness and for “tradition”.

Cross multiply that out and… Well, you get the idea.

I suppose that for any kind of recreational gear it’s more or less the same.

The good news: A Golden Age for choice.

The bad news: Not so much for consensus.