I like a variety of apples too. Granny Smith has a nice tart flavor, golden delicious hold their shape and taste sweet, macintosh melts down nicely and makes a sweet syrup in the pie and I always put in some other apples as well. When I lived in NY I lived near apple orchards and they always mixed the apples in their pies and the smell was so good. I always made my own pie after picking apples at the orchard. It reminds me of my favorite memories.