MAN used to be so much better back in the days (it used to be my 'local' back in my Lancashire days), it was inevitable [given the decrepit infrastructure] that the significant increase in terms of flights/passengers would have lead to the current [bleak] state-of-play. A bit like BHX (talking about decrepit infrastructure) which fortunately, though, is still running okay, but I guess that the smaller volume of passengers plus the 'separate area' for most low-cost carriers will have helped slightly. At BHX, unless you 'pop-in' during the busy summer/charter months, you still have the rather pleasant feeling of departing from the 'cosiness' of your local/next-door airport
G