Why whole beans beat refried beans in a burrito

I will make my case simply: a whole bean carries its broth. When you fold a burrito with whole beans that have been cooked properly and not drained, that broth saturates the rice and creates a unified, deeply seasoned filling. A refried bean from a can adds fat but not that broth. The structural argument is also real. Whole beans give texture contrast against soft rice and tender protein. They hold their position. A refried spread moves around, becomes part of the sauce layer, and you lose the bean as a distinct element. I am not saying refried have no place — they are good as a layer in some assemblies — but for the main bean element I will always choose whole.