I don't think there's any middle ground when it comes to eating them on the half shell. You either like them or you don't.
Wife is the same. She now wraps them in bacon & adds cheese. Kind on her variation of Oysters Bienville
East coast oysters are the shit. crisp and clean. Smaller than Gulf oysters and without the Gulf of Mexico taste. I'll go with either. Never had Northwest oysters yet.
Slide em onto a cracker with a couple shots of Tabasco or just the Tabasco and right off the shell. Can eat them until they stop bringing them out.
Raw with a spicy horseradish cocktail sauce.....can’t be beat. Gulf oysters are the best, slightly salty with real flavor. I’ll chew them if they have any size. Chargrilled oh my. I think New Orleans Food & Spiritshas the best.