Linux Distros

What is the best Distro to run and why?

Really, I'd like to know why many of you hate Ubuntu so much. I've been using it for a long time now and it does everything I need, giving me an easy-to-use secure Linux distribution that ``just works". What exactly do you believe I'm missing out on? Is the much-heralded "Gentoo" really worth compiling everything from source for?

I've been reading and trying to go through Linux From Scratch (LFS) to learn more about linux, but after I learn about all of that, does it really matter if I use Ubuntu or not? How fast do you really need an average computer these days to go, and is the little bit of extra speed really worth it?

tl;dr
Best Linux Distro, and why. Is the Optimization really that important?

Also, as a sidenote: any advice on customizing Linux with certain additions and tweaks (like RatPoison as I've heard mentioned before) would be great. What are some really useful tools that aren't already given?

First of all, wrong board.

Really, I'd like to know why many of you hate Ubuntu so much. I've been using it for a long time now and it does everything I need, giving me an easy-to-use secure Linux distribution that ``just works".
Ubuntu is just perfectly fine. People hate it because it's easy and popular, and therefore isn't good for their painstakingly nurtured e-penis.

Is the Optimization really that important?
CFLAGS just kicked in, yo!

You don't get anything out of OMG OPTIMIZING your distro. Most of your programs are just waiting for your slow ass to give them something to play with, most of the time.