I'm always delayed at small airports. Maybe I'm just unlucky? Or a symptom of afternoon planes that originate in ORD to come get me from small airports? I just have had very different experiences in the last few years.
I'd say a little unlucky. Delays happen anywhere. But on good weather days, I've just found that they board in time or early. Rarely the case at my home airport, ORD, where it seems it's always a couple minutes past the posted boarding time.
Delays and cancels at small airports can stink though. Once had to cram into a van to ride from HPN to LGA to catch the last flight home to ORD!