I think it has to do with how your exposed and lack of knowledge. Growing up my mom had a freshwater tank a couple times and they didn’t impress me. She wasn’t enthusiastic about it and the fish were like gold fish and suckers you get from the hardware store down the street. They were dim and not colorful. I swam in my plenty of rivers and lakes and nothing really catches your eye. Years later I went to my supervisor’s and he had a saltwater tank and we stood there for hours. That was it I had to have one. I never even looked up how cool freshwater could be. Not mention the ocean is generally viewed as exotic