Yes, it's never about pork itself. It's about the ingredients used and the method used to cook.

Even for lard, it's not like you put lard in every single dish means it's good. It depends on whether the dish is suitable or not.

Ya just take picture of nasi campur snd compare with cina version of nasi campur

It tells a lot of stories

Not really. Everyone has their own palate.

Of course having said that, there is also an expected taste. Eg. You expect tomato sauce to taste in a certain way. You expect mee rebus or longtong or Mee goreng to have certain taste and smell. If it varies too much form what you expect, then it's not nice to you.

Yes, if you try adding lard to Mee goreng, it might taste aweful instead.

I like mee soto alot. And no, I cannot comprehend replacing the chicken with pork....