Probably more excited that I'm getting to take my left overs home :)

You never know why people are choosing the food they are: allergies, aversion to certain ingredients or flavors, religious needs, vegetarian or vegan diets, being unsure what it is in the dish, etc. I'm always a little bit careful at potlucks, because I don't eat meat and don't like really spicy food. I'll often ask people what's in their dish if they're around, but if that isn't impossible, I would rather skip taking some of something than have them see me throw it away later.

If my dish was barely touched, I might be a little embarrassed, but I would take it home, enjoy it, and make a mental note to not bring that again.

I would not feel offended, but I would feel insecure. I would not say anything about it though. After all, it's their rights to choose whatever they want to eat. Sometimes it's not that your food doesn't taste good, it's just not what people want to eat for potluck where they mostly want to eat comfort food and not some exotic food they never hear about or see, much less taste. Sometimes it's the presentation, or even the smell. I can make yummy cakes, but they just don't look as good as the bakery's cakes. I can bet that if I make a durian based dessert, no one unfamiliar with durian will touch it no matter how good it looks or how delicious I say it is. Sometimes, well, your cooking just sucks and you've got to accept it and try to do better next time.

No, I don't think I'd feel offended or upset. Sometimes so many things are brought to a potluck that people will just sample a little bit of some of the dishes, especially if they aren't all that sure what it is or aren't certain of the ingredients. Sometimes there's at least one other very similar dish brought by someone else. Also, some foods are just easier to eat and more convenient than others, so that could be part of it.

When there have been potluck lunches at my husband's work in the past, I've always contributed something. Sometimes the people have snarfed up every bite and other times they've only eaten about half of it. No big deal. I know my husband likes the things I make, and most of his friends do too. They make special requests on a regular basis, and I enjoy making something for them even if they are unable to finish all of it for whatever reason.

That's one helpful thing about making food for the same group of people over time--you get to know their tastes and what they'd like most from you for the potlucks or other occasions they have.

No I wouldn't be offended and really wouldn't care. Whenever I had to do this I always use aluminum trays because I don't take home the leftovers. Unless I know the person and have been to their house I don't eat at a potluck buffet. I don't know how you handle food or if you pick it up from the floor when it drops or your hair is in it. I eat all kinds of food but I have even see people bring food in in dirty tupperware.

I might wonder why, but if it's my favorite dish, I would be glad I got to keep it! There is usually so much food at a potluck, and people tend to eat what they are used to, so if you took a casserole that couldn't be identified, or something unusual, usually no one will try it.

No, I wouldn't be offended. I agree with, quesera. I would be excited about getting to take it home to eat. My husband's family has a reunion every year and it's potluck so, I've actually had this happen to me. It was a little embarrassing but I just made something else the next year. My husband made a BBQ brisket one year and it went like crazy. Now that kind of ticked me off! LOL