This isn't a random, one-off comment - in every series, it's mentioned over and over again how much better non-replicated food is. And getting better/ upgraded food patterns, and so on and so forth.
Hell, it even took Picard a while to get his tea made right.
Now that said, it's mostly a software issue, not a hardware issue.
Today, you get to learn that the phrase "selling" here means "recommending".
It has nothing to do with literal transaction of goods or services for money. Instead, it is based on the concept of "salesmanship", or convincing someone of the value of something - be it an idea or product. Recommending something is a method of selling it.
Have you ever actually seen star trek?
it isn't a placebo.