Are Tater Tots Only a Regional Delicacy?

I don't know if people outside of Minnesota (possibly the whole greater Taco John's region) understand the concept of the perfect tater tot, hash brown, or even the potato olé. I'm having tater tots (served with breakfast) from Whole Foods. They are not warm and they are tough. They're also some kind of grayish yellow color. Maybe its just me, but I'm not sure this would even pass back home.