I checked in my luggage at the check-in counter. and yes this was my first time flying out of ORD, I used to connect to ORD alot of times couple of years back and if my memory served me correctly it wasn't as bad as this.

Company gave me a car and I like the miles that I get when renting the car so that's why I kept it and I had absolutely no idea that the traffic was that bad 6am in the morning!

And yes I would avoid ORD any chance I get