Comparative with infinitive verb ("better than drinking")

Question

Why is it "que *de* boire"?

Accepted Answer

Hi Adrian,
Good question! 
I am afraid it is one of these cases when the preposition 'de' cannot be justified, it is simply idiomatic but very necessary.

Il n'y a rien de plus intéressant que de lire un bon roman = There's nothing more interesting than to read a good novel
Il n'y a rien de mieux que de pratiquer son français = There's nothing better than to practise your French 
Il n'y a rien de plus satisfaisant que d'avoir de bons résultats = There's nothing more satisfying than having good results

Answer

I found this in Monique L'Huilier's Advanced French Grammar: "If infinitive and conjugated verb are permuted (e.g. with an impersonal expression) so that the infinitive follows the conjugated verb, de is required. Ex.: Il ne sert à rien de se fâcher. There is no point in getting angry. Il serait vain d'attendre. It would be pointless to wait." I take from this that any phrase like 'it's something to something' is going to need that 'de'.