I'm finding my tastes in color film to gravitate toward the grainier stocks (ORWO NC, Film Washi X), and yet as I find myself using less slide film than I did a couple years ago, I can't help but wonder, what makes e6 so compelling? truth be told, I wish there were some grainy options available like Lomo xpro was, but for me I think I like the extremely fine grain of e100, it's sharp but it feels more organic than digital.
I think in part the reason I'm shooting less is because I've become more specific about what I want to shoot with it; I seem to want to do more subdued colors, and/or more abandoned/ industrial decay stuff, and I haven't been able to get out as much and find new rugged locations.
Well, I guess I just think a fine grained e6 image looks better than a fine grain c41.

Whereas some photographers argue that E6 is very "digital" I still see it is enticing for the right subjects under the right conditions as well as colour! But I agree, it is more specific. As of "Digital" I disagree as there is a different rendition of the colors, specially reds.
In general, C41 films (Kodak Portra and Ektar) are very flexible. With also the right conditions and workflow (scanning) it can look almost matched to some slides.

My relation with grain is interesting. I shoot 6x9 120 which makes higher ISO films not grainy. Sometimes fine grain also makes for an image "Miss" something, even acutance. I could replenish my 120 stock with fresh Provia, which gives me the extended possibility to shoot it. However, in general I am shooting less of it as ISO100 and E6 is less flexible.

That reminds me- another reason I like e6 is the lack of flexibility- rather to get the most of the film you have to learn the stock and the conditions/ light it'll perform the best in. IE- Velvia 50 looks awful in hard light, compensating for overexposure can give ugly magenta tints in the highlights, and extremely dull light can make slides look gross.

Simply - I started with finding slides abandoned at various abandonments I explored, collection grew. To view them, I bought slide projector.
That purchase raised a question: are slides being still made? Yes, evergrowing in price though.
And another question in the reality of stupid expensive E-6: can I do BW Slides the same way I'm projecting them from the past? Yes, I can and here I am, shooting for projection, scanning and everything on-line coming after that.


So I stick with slides, because that's how enjoy not only film, but photography in general.

And quality enjoyment it is.

To migrate towards negs would make it all that more expensive, longer and cumbersome - for less fidelity, because a translation from medium to medium is involved.