I like AM for the fidelity and the general technical know how most AM operators have.
Plus people using vintage gear, class d and e transmitters (homebrew), military radios, sdr radios, gives lots to talk about.
No matter what mode you are on, its nice to have a good receiver.
I enjoy the band scope and filters a good SDR delivers.
I am almost all home brew using tubes, receivers, audio, transmitters, vfo's, exciters, antenna's.
I suspect many who make comments here have built nothing.
And as a side note, a class D or class E transmitter is MUCH more efficient then ssb into an amplifier.
My class d rig is 1000 watts pep and draws about 5 amps on 120 volts and does not even get warm.

If you want to communicate, just get a cell phone.
You want to have fun, build an AM station and talk to people running all sorts of interesting gear.
I went with a Flex 6400M to replace the flex 5000 and the icom 756 pro 2.
I like the standalone aspect and the fidelity of the Flex.