i notice that a very large number of the complaints about iad and preference for dca are based simply on the proximity of dca and iad to the complainer's location.

don't blame the airport for being out in the boondocks.

in my experiences, LHR, LGA,cdg, mxp, istanbul, fco, vce, are all out in nowhere. some have decent rail transport in. mxp did not until recently, and taxi fare was €100.