We all have choices and one bad experience (either by me or my SO) is sufficient to reconsider which airlines I pick. AA rank below DL and UA for a reason. My comment regarding "typical for AA" was referring to no snacks being offered on a 2+h flight.
My home airport is IND. The only lounge we have here is from DL, and that is important to me.
I have a trip to MIA coming up. AA flies direct, DL does not. Cost is about the same, but I'd rather fly with DL as time is not an issue for me and getting a drink in the Amex CL in ATL on the way and having some food at IND helps lessen the pain of flying in general.
To some folks cost is all the matters, for others it's convenience - we make choices and not just about which airlines we fly with for very personal reasons.