I think the strat is one of those iconic guitar sounds; The quack in between positions in particular. You can get sounds like that from other instruments, but it is what the strat does best.
This my roadworn strat, I love it. It has a tone to it that I can't get from my other strats. There is something about this one that's just good. It has become my #1 guitar.
I have had at least a dozen Strats pass through my hands over the years, and every damn time I get rid of one, I want one again...I just can't shake it.
Although my Suhr's get most playing time nowadays, I think this is still the "biggest" sounding guitar I have. Unplugged, it's really loud, and plugged in it gets louder. Science.