I prefer them mainly because they don't sound as rattly as GHS (what I used to use) on EMG pickups. I also tried a set of standard Bullets a while back, sounded like crap even compared to the GHS's. D'Addario's were on my C-1+ when I bought it, some typically-gauged set, and I didn't like the sound nearly as much as the ST/HB strings I normally use. I think it has a lot to do with finding strings that compliment your setup, and Ernie Ball makes a LOT of different string sets, so as a result, a lot of people turn to that brand.