>>>So, my next question in this investigation is - how did people make sandwiches when oven-toasting wasn't practicable and toasters weren't invented yet? Was bread different then? I know the bread I have in mind exists here - I have found such bread once or twice. Was all bread like that before toasters?
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>>I rarely toast bread to make sandwiches (with the possible exception of a 'Western Sandwich'). Bottom line. If you don't like toast, then that's your own taste, but the bread itself isn't better or worse just because some people do like toast. Bread is bread. Good bread usually makes good toast, and lousy bread isn't improved by toasting it.
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>>I have to admit I'm a bit amused by the fact that you so adamantly hate toast, and feel that bread is only good if you don't toast it.
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>I didn't say I don't like toast. It's the industrial sliced bread that must be toasted that I can't stand - has wrong smell, is too watery, too spongy, and virtually crust free.
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>The bread my wife makes is pretty much a nirvana-in-a-loaf. And it does get toasted sometimes - when, say, older than two days. And we have a slicer machine so slicing to toaster width isn't a problem.

So why would you ask what it is about bread that toasting makes it better? Considering you have your own reasons for toasting.