I admit I do prefer to collect gastropod shells (though I do adore those
Venus species with the heavy concentric sculpture, you just HAVE to touch
them.).
But, at mealtime, I have a heavy bias towards bivalves. Yes, I've had
delicious snail conch, but I'm always a little amazed that they are good and
suspect the tastiness depends largely on the sauce or garlic butter. But
bivalves are best with minimal adornment; steamer clams and muscles in their
own broth, raw oysters with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Sadly, because of pollution, I don't risk eating shellfish very often these
days.