From my point of view (I'm not a professional chef), I appreciate seeing the chefs get uncomfortable for a change. I like when they have to think about different flavors entirely and not just different pieces of meat or fish that they've never worked with. Part of building a great menu is having a good taste in desserts and how to present them, and I think that the Season 9 dessert challenge showed this. Strong chefs like Will and Paul, and of course Elise, didn't produce the best dishes that challenge, and I liked how Will took the feedback. Sure, being a head chef at a restaurant in New York (the prize that season) demands a different skillset than being an elite pastry chef, but there's still some value in having those dessert challenges to see how people adapt and react to that change. I also appreciated the breakfast challenge from Season 15 for the same reason.