ghostoffuffle Devac ButterflyEffect lets step back here and ask a more fundamental question:

Why do we eat food?

1) Because were hungry

2) Because we enjoy eating good food the process itself is pleasurable

3) Because we need nutrients/energy to do what we do

You guys are all addressing problem #3 Need for nutrients. Generally in the western world we dont actually eat food to address #3 unless we are working out really hard. We eat food to address #1 and #2. That's why I end up eating a lot of meat because meat is very efficient at addressing hunger for a long duration and because I enjoy meat so that covers #2. Need for nutrients doesn't really fall into the equation.

I could reduce my meat consumption but then I would have to find something equally as effective at addressing hunger and tasting good. I love starches I could eat a lot of rice and potatoes to cover that hunger deficiency that comes from eating less meat but that would mean that in order to keep my hunger at the same level I would end up consuming more calories and I would get fat. So I have a choice of either being more hungry or being fat. Both of which I would negatively impact my quality of life.

I could theoretically replace all meat with Tofu but tofu has no flavor on its own and I am not very proficient at cooking with it. Also its a single flavor of protein where as there are lots of possible meat flavors and verities. In order for me to switch I would have to learn how to cook well with tofu and learn a bunch new recipes. The time and effort barrier to entry is just to high for it to be a good solution. Thats why in my mind synthetic meat is the only practical way to solve this problem.