I LIVE on the PHL-NYP Acela. I think I know almost all of the workers by name. If you are going PHL-BOS on a Friday night if you go Acela, you HAVE to go first. Business is so crowded you end up on top of people left and right and sometimes since the train is coming from WAS it is hard to find a seat in PHL. The 87 is completely worth it. you get a meal and all the free booze you want, which occassionaly for me has equaled the price of "upgrade".
Also, if you go Acela first you get to go to the Club Acela. Which is nice.
I like the regional trains on off times cause you can sleep scross them though.