My view is not a extreme Catholic view...it is the Catholic view.  I believe what the Church teaches and what she has always taught.  My personal beliefs are of no merit and no consequence.
The emphasis on the mass as meal is an innovation since VII.   Recent popes have emphasized this aspect at the expense of the much more important aspect of sacrifice.  So much so that many regular churchgoing Catholics are frankly scandalized when you tell them the mass is first and primarily a  sacrifice and only secondarily (distant second) a meal  In fact, traditionally the Church has taught that the mass has four ends: adoration,  reparation, petition, and thanksgiving.  You will note that  "having a meal with all your friends" does not appear.  It is argued that the meal aspect of the mass was emphasized (and the sacrificial aspect downplayed) so that our protestant brethren would feel more comfortable at mass. How'd that go?  Also see Trent Session 22 for elaboration on mass as a sacrifice.