If I can't wade in it for fishing, or go snorkeling in it, or operate a small boat on it, the water is useless to me. My wife likes sea sides that have crashing surf. I look at it and say "what am I supposed to do with this?". Same thing for frozen lakes. Worthless. If I have to use a motor boat and run it a long distance before getting someplace worthwhile: worthless. If the river has no public access to it: worthless.
What's left is some really beautiful places that you can do a lot with.