I had never thought much about natural vs man-made lakes in GA, as I'm not a big watersports guy, but doing a quick Google check confirms what your client said.  Of the 9 major lakes in the state, all 9 were created by acts of Congress.  Congress has the ability to create a lake, but they can't manage to bring charges against the most corrupt administration in 30 years.

As far as Illinois goes, particularly Chicago, it's one of my favorite places on the planet, running only moderately behind San Francisco and Tokyo, and far ahead of NYC and LA (although I haven't been to England and my first journey to Oz is in a couple of weeks).  I guess it's the "realness" of the place and the people that I love, and would go back in a heartbeat for the right job at the right $$.  The only real downsides for me are winter temperatures that hover just over absolute zero, Cub fans, and the current governor.

I've still got scars on my hands from detassling corn too.  I did it for 3 straight summers as a tween, and man did I learn about life.  That's where I got my first joint, my first beer, and probably one or 2 other "firsts" that needn't be itemized.