Texture is a big factor in people's taste preferences. The texture introduced by mixing liquid with partially-melted solid is appealing to many. In addition, it is not possible to carbonate ice cream, and the carbonation of the root beer plays a large role in the enjoyment of the root beer float. As a third and final factor, many people enjoy the process of creating a float as it allows them to decide how 'thick' they want their float to be. Some people prefer a very high ice cream to root beer ratio, while others would prefer only a tiny amount of ice cream.