What’s Wrong With Dandelions

I took the picture here of a dandelion, yes a dreaded dandelion that crept into my yard. I generally treat dandelions but really don't want to.  I don't want my neighbor's beautiful yard to have the nasty dandelion head it's way so I'll be spraying the few found in my yard this week.  Growing up in Spring Valley, Mn. I don't recall a lot of people getting rid of their dandelions.  I'm sure there were a few, but I know my dad just let them grow and had no problem with them.  I remember a woman at the dinner table when I used to eat with Mom at Pleasantview Estates talking about eating dandelion soup during the great depression.  You can find contradictory information about anything, but I did read dandelions are truly very nutritious.  The young dandelion greens can be cooked like spinach and used in salads.  You've got to pick them though before the blossoms appear. Getting back to the nutrition of the dandelion.  Loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants, is it really something we should be killing ?  You can eat the blossoms too.  They are used in making dandelion jelly or dandelion honey.  Have you ever tried dandelion fritters ?  Get out the cooking oil and fry some up.  Just the flowers are used for this.  Pick them and use them right away.  In a bowl mix together an egg with the flowers and a cup of milk.  Stir in a cup of flour and your fritter batter is ready to go.  If you like your fritters sweet add some maple syrup or honey.  Gently warm some olive oil in a skillet on the stove and keep it over medium heat. Dip the flower petals into the batter and twirl until the flower is covered.  Drop it into the skillet flower side down.  Continue dipping and dropping flowers until they are lightly browned then flip them and brown on the other side.  When brown on both sides, remove from the skillet and drain the excess oil on a paper towel.  I recently read where the dandelion flowers are good for your heart.  Dandelion flower tea some herbalists claim will help relieve headache pain, back pain and depression.  I'm just thinking out loud here and wonder what you think.  Are God's dandelions more harmful than the chemicals we spray on the lawns to get rid of them ?