No one said oak was bland. It is neutral unlike hickory and mesquite which have a distinct taste which many like. We have many types of oak and use them for B'bq and cooking out. If we use hickory , mesquite or others it is as an added flavor in small amounts.
We're gonna disagree here, Oak isn't neutral in flavor. Of course, it could be a difference in cooking technique. I have a stick burner, burn a lot of wood. If you're talking about using chunks or shavings on a charcoal grill like a weber, I can see where you're coming from.
