I think the concept we're looking for here is not actually "bland" but somewhere between inoffensive and without surprise. If something is being sold as a crea

I think the concept we're looking for here is not actually "bland" but somewhere between inoffensive and without surprise. If something is being sold as a creamer for coffee, for example, most people want the product to turn out like the coffee they're used to. No surprises. I think it explains the success of fast food franchises. A burger from McDonald's may not be particularly inspiring, but it'll be pretty much exactly what you expect, time after time.