I've always felt groups to be one of two types: chit-chatters, and performance-oriented types.

I'm all for chatting along, on a decent ride. So long as each cyclist "behaves" reasonably in terms of safety and precautions, not ditching those when nearing pedestrians (ie on a MUP) or when the chatting gets a bit lively.

I've never been much of a performance-oriented-group type rider. In those, on the handful of occasions I have joined them, they're invariably focusing on push, push, push, and determined to ride in "peloton" format (far too close for my preferences). So, not for me, these types of rides. But sometimes it's hard to know in advance what sort of ride it's likely to be, even if initially claiming it's more of a sedate, chit-chat type of ride.

My own preference: usually it's solo, or with a well-known buddy where our cycling styles match well; with the occasional chit-chat type group ride, so long as the group keeps from becoming a peloton type ride that "pushes" everyone along.

Nice thing is, everyone's different, and there are enough groups of people around who can gather in whichever types of groups they prefer, with each group gravitating toward the sort of cycling mode the group wants. Nice to have such choices.