When I started mountain biking over a decade ago, Maxxis tyres were very popular. The original High Roller was the go-to tyre in my country, maybe with a Minion up front if you were riding steep or loose trails. At the time, Scwhalbe and Conti tyres were more expensive (even when a new generation of online bike shops started to emerge with cheaper prices than your LBS) and weren’t as grippy. That doesn’t seem to be the case any more, but it left a legacy of riders who prefer and recommend Maxxis.
As others have said, I don’t think rolling resistance is as important as grip. That reflects tread design and compound without considering grip under different circumstances. An Ardent rolls quick but won’t grip nearly as much as a Minion.