Just got back this weekend. Everyone's now in a consolidated rental car facility that is actually closer to DT Phoenix than Sky Harbor (note to airport: best to remove the "Sky Harbor" welcome sign that the shuttle bus passes on the way to the terminal, as it just emphasizes how far from the terminals the facility is).

Since everyone's together and everything is shiny and new (the place is a huge monster which we are no doubt paying through the nose for with even more facility fees - sorry, it's so hard to not get off topic when you're talking Phoenix car rental taxes), the playing field is pretty even right now. Service was OK to slightly indifferent - I used Dollar Express and so went right outside - although I got exactly what asked for and upon return the guy made a point to say "I'm going to check the car for damage" - that could have been handled with a little more tact.

Dollar part was quick and painless. Consolidated shuttle bus was overcrowded and took 20 minutes to arrive (from airport), and the facility has more layers of security (three sets of spike strips; two barricades in the exit lane) than most places here in DC. Gives you a warm welcome to Phoenix.

The Tempe idea has a lot of merit - I'm probably going to try something like that next time.