I don't consider Nickelback "metal". I listen to Nickelback because I like the music, not because it's "cool".
Sounds like most on here don't like any music unless it's underground and obscure. They hate any mainstream music just because it's the "cool thing to do".
I like good music. I tend to stick with the 90's for mainstream music, but that's because of my age. Seems people's music tastes get locked in between their teens and early 20's.
Examples of "Mainstream" music I like (not counting bands that I liked for years that suddenly got popular):
Neil Young
Talking Heads
old Metallica
The Ramones
Foo Fighters
Soundgarden
Iron Maiden
Fugazi (at least in DC)
Bands that acheived mild success like Ruth Ruth and Rocket From the Crypt
Bands that got famous after I liked them like Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Coheed and Cambria and AFI
Bands that sucked after they got famous like Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold
I also like metal that will melt your face, weird old punk rock like Television, early-mid 90's emo (not eyeliner and tight jeans garbage, stuff like Pedro the Lion and Jets to Brazil), stoner rock, some surf music
In other words, I keep my mind open and explore music on my own, instead of listening to what Clear Channel got payola to force me to listen to (best thing Eliot Spitzer ever did was busting record label payola)
You won't win this argument, because taste is taste - it differs - some people prefer Mondrian to Rembrandt, others like Nascar collectors plates - it makes the world a better place
Besides, when you are losing an argument, calling the other people elitists as a hail mary is a tried and true talk radio blowhard trick