To be fair, that’s because it never was cheese to begin with: American (as in the type) “cheese” has always been a means of repurposing leftover cheese (and using supplementary ingredients like milk and milk protein and emulsifiers to bind things together). It legally can’t be called cheese because it’s always been a “cheese product”, not cheese. That doesn’t (inherently) mean it’s any less real food, though (which I feel is what most people hear when they hear, “It can’t legally be called cheese”).

Also, (as a cheese lover) yes: it does taste like ass and is repulsive. Entirely agreed.