Thanks, everyone. I guess I will just be grateful I am at least able to travel and not look at the drawbacks.
Good point about the hotels. I think NJ is generous about travel from adjoining states. So I should be able to check into Marriott across the parking lot or the Hilton without a problem. Thanks for that.
I rebooked the most roundabout way into EWR as UA would allow. Otherwise would have had a 12-hour layover.