There is something about the Elves which is enchanting. Their faded grandeur? Their diversity of individuals after years of invasions, interbreeding and adaption? Their rich history and culture? Hmmm
....maybe it is something about being British which makes me like them. A culture that clings to its history in the aftermath of a great decline.
I wonder if people's class/race preferences have much to do with their own backgrounds?
I did not have a preference previously, but after 4th Edition came out, I started liking drow much more than I had before. Not because of what was done to them to update them, but because I feel that any drow in a campaign I run have a lot of work ahead of them to correct the damage that WotC inflicted on their very existence (along with the Shattered Realms in general).