[dmm]

It is hard to find good bagels. I agree with you that, in most places, most bagels are lousy. (Actually, where I live, ALL baked goods are mostly lousy.)

But a GOOD bagel -- like you get routinely in NY or Philly -- is awesome. The outside is tough, almost but not quite crunchy. The inside is soft and doughy, but not airy. The aroma is amazing.

Properly-made bagels are most definitely NOT "bread shaped like a torus." The recipe is different, and you boil them for a while before baking them.