This is so true! I often arrive home pretty late at night and it seems to take forever for a long term bus to pull around. In the meantime it seems like dozens of rental car buses and private long term parking buses pass me by. I've pretty much switched to never parking in the long term lot. I typically park in short term parking for anything less than 4 days and in a private lot for anything longer.

On the rare occaisions that I give myself enough time, I take the Caltrain from the city, though I usually take a cab or supershuttle back home.

As an aside, in the short term garage, I always park on level one, there's a sign that makes it look like only cabs can go down the ramp which I think confuses enough people that there seems to always be a space right by the F (United) entrance. It makes a quick getaway when you come back.