On the other extreme are roms that are fustratingly bare of even the basic of apps.
Those roms are a let down cause you wont know just how good it performs under pressure, till you fill it up with apps.
I used to cook roms back in the 6700 days and still hold the belief that you can load a rom without slowdown IF you choose your apps wisely
Roms without apps are not taking advantage of the benefits of being preocooked..
I look for at least some common type apps precooked in.
Come on now, who still uses the native "file explorer" instead of resco or total commander?