It is strange to me as well, because DKCR was and still is absolutely fantastic. There are actually things I still prefer about DKCR, but I can see why people prefer TF. There was just a lot more variety in mechanical, level, and environmental design in TF, there were less minecart and rocketbarrel levels, Dixie was in it, it had far better boss battles, superior music, and players weren't forced to use waggle controls.