My sister and brother-in-law invented them (and created the market for that matter). PowerBars really took off when Lance won his first Tour de France and attributed it to the PowerBar.
Selling out? There's nothing bad about making a great product you believe in, pouring your life into it, and selling it to a company that can better adapt to a changing market to live comfortably for the rest of your lives.
Admittedly, sometimes the things that are best for your body aren't necessairly the tastiest. I've had my favorite flavors, but I suspect what will work best for your ride is a Milky Way.