[strken]

As far as I know we both mean the same thing: loose gravel that has a grader and maybe a roller run over the surface every now and again. Surfaces in even worse condition that are basically wheel ruts filled with gravel with grass growing out the middle might called either gravel or dirt road/track, and those without gravel are just dirt roads/tracks. People use the words interchangeably at times.

I grew up around them and they were fine to ride on. They're usually so low traffic that there aren't many corrugations, though outback gravel roads like the Tanami Track are an exception, and you don't ride (or drive) too fast on them. The noise isn't really an issue for me, it just sounds crunchy in a way that blends into the background. If you're riding on one lane country roads, you're probably already used to a bit of gravel on the surface.

I think the appeal is that you're sharing the road with 30km/h tractors and 60km/h utes, not 100km/h SUVs.