I think it depends what your expectations were before you went with a lot of the places mentioned. I went backpacking in my 20s and did it on a shoe string, I did the usual route most people take se Asia, Australia and NZ. I will agree with a lot of the things said, like Bangkok is dirty and you kind of feel like you constantly have to be alert to thieves etc (my friend had her bank card stolen and her account cleared whilst we were there). I did actually enjoy it there despite this, it was something a bit different. If I went there now for a holiday or with my young family I'd hate it, I'd say horrible dirty place, full of dodgy people!
Australia, totally agree stuck in the 80s, there are some very weird towns out in the middle of nowhere, I described it at the time as a journey back to the 80s. When people asked about it when I came home (as people in the uk often think it's this amazing place) I said beyond the weather, a bit of nice scenery and interesting wildlife there isn't an awful lot going on there. Bondi beach is very much "is that it?", packed and just not that nice. Walk 20 min to the next cove it's quieter and much nicer.
Some people said Edinburgh, I quite like it, although there isn't loads going on there, a weekend is plenty and everywhere shuts when the pubs do, no take aways, which is a disaster when you are starving at midnight after a night in the pub.
All depends on expectations and what you are there for, honeymoon vs city break vs family hol vs backpacking... etc you'd want very different things!