One thing to consider with Ryanair is exactly what you're trying to do with your air travel. If you're a FTer in the USA, you're probably traveling heavy (at least a lot heavier than a European who is going on a weekend holiday). Thus, you'll need to add luggage charges to the fare and taxes to see your final price.

As many have noted, Ryanair flies to some pretty remote airports. In my one experience with them, that was a very good thing -- Nimes to London (the only air service to London anywhere close to where I was). Of course, the remote airport is usually a bad thing. Again, consider what you're trying to do.

Regarding the flights themselves, who cares? These are short flights, so it hardly matters if the seats are a little tight, no window shades, they want $1 for a soda, etc.