Here's an obversvation (not a terribly clever one though, maybe next time):
Emily bought some Diet Cherry Coke by accident and I am once again reminded how bad it tastes. Not that I am blaming Emily as the packaging between the two is so similar (and I did the same think with diet caffeine/regular caffeine (shut up, I like sweet carbonated drinks without getting wired all the time) not long ago). In fact, anytime a soda manufacturer tries to put a fruit flavoring in their cola it's a disaster. Cherry, lemon, or lime - it's all horrible. I like a little fresh lemon in my soda from time to time (shut up) as it gives the soda a nice refreshing taste, but when you add lemon like chemicals at a factory, it has exactly the opposite effect, making it taste like window cleaner. Used window cleaner. Yuck.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy fruit inspired sodas; Orange Soda and your array of lemon-limes, but leave the fruit flavoring out of my cola. Please.