I've drank diet soda my entire life. My family has history of both being overweight and diabetes, so my mum restricted full sugar drinks from an early age. Which given my weight now is probably for the best.
For me, sparkling water is just unbalanced. Since its essentially a dilute solution of carbonic acid, it has only a sour taste which has never been appealing to me. Its like drinking dilute, bubbly vinegar. Sodas and flavoured waters however have some sweetness or other flavour profile that balances it out.
Edit: Also, 157 pages? Definitely time for a new thread.