I like the natural taste of the meat juices Tattie. Like you, I don't appreciate stuff like Marmite being added. I like it on bread, toast, crackers etc. but NOT in gravy!
My mother (who was Auntie Lily's sister) used to wonder if all those cigarettes (she smoked 50 a day!!) had blunted Auntie's taste buds, so that she was seeking a stronger flavour for her cookery. Neither of my parents ever smoked, so our taste buds were in good shape.