Pumpkin pie is kind of like cheesecake. You wouldn't think that dropping a blob of cream cheese (or pureed pumpkin) on a pie crust would work very well, but... mix it with a lot of sugar and suddenly it works. Creamy and sweet.
It's not my favorite, but that's because my mom ruined squash for me by always boiling it until it was a fibrous, mushy, tasteless mass. She did the same with spinach and okra. No idea why she did that, she was an amazing cook and usually not afraid to experiment and find something that worked. But some foods she would just boil too long and serve. Go figure.