I've never tried any of the freeze dried "emergency foods" myself. But I think they could have a place in emergency preps, because emergencies won't all necessarily be the same. There may be plenty of water in some cases, and maybe everyone will be cooking in their yards. I think people make the mistake of thinking every emergency will be The Zombie Apocalypse, when most will be more mundane.

For the most part, I just buy more of what I normally buy and eat anyway. That way I don't have to say "this is emergency rations; this is the groceries".