Truly, I don't understand the obsession with ribs. There's this whole "tendernism" trend where people rave about ribs so soft they fall right off the bone as the ultimate ideal. Yet that wouldn't even place in a real BBQ competition. I'm surprised we even have those events, born from a world where survival is no longer a daily struggle.
I don't care much for the tendernism debate. To me, ribs—from any animal—are possibly the worst edible part if you're actually trying to get the most value for your money. Sure, if you butchered a whole chicken or cow yourself, go ahead and enjoy them. But dropping $40 at a restaurant for a single rack? That's a horrible, almost disgustingly consumerist choice that doesn't help society—it hurts it in the long run.
Ribs shouldn't cost that much, so why all the fuss over whether they fall off the bone or not? Just toss the rib in the trash, or give it to your dog who will genuinely and passionately enjoy it, and treat yourself to a proper slab of steak instead.
I would never spend my own money on ribs.