I have to admit, I'd rather listen to Madonna than Maiden, but neither are examples of why I love the 80s.

Madonna don't bother me much, but many rock bands used that awful production style back then. And I don't like it.
The most awful example of that is songs like Invisible Touch etc. I can't stand that production. Bruce's Born In The USA albums is also nearly spoiled by synths. Or Paul McCartney's Press To Play. Even damn Bob Dylan made that mistake.

But eighties had great bands too, of course. Meat Puppets, Replacements, Police, Dire Straits, REM and so on

These don't go together.

Sorry, as a metal fan I respect Maiden's place in music history but I've just never been able to get into them.

I think that the 80's produced some of the best music overall however I appreciate music from different eras.

According to RYM I have given more albums from the 70's a 4 out of 5 or more rating than any other decade. But that doesn't really mean much.

Would probably go for the 90's if I had to choose.

I got to say 90s. I'm biased because I was raised in the 90s but the endless amounts of crazy good music never gets old!!

I would say the 70s pieces of every genre you can imagine. From prog, glam, country rock, southern rock, jazz fusion, punk, metal, funk, they have everything!

Definitely the 70s for me. (The 60s come as a runner-up.) What a groovy time.

The 50's to the 80's (the hair metal was great).