in spite of his mean-spirited attitude, the general is probably correct about UA being a poor choice from SEA. In addition to SFO and ORD being hairy, the United gates at SEA are all in the furthest concourses.

I've recently moved from AS to AA and couldn't be happier (unless of course they reopened the Admirals Club in Concourse A). For choices of flights and number of partners, AS is likely your best bet. The downside is that EVERYONE and their dogs are elite in Seattle so there's always someone with better status. With relatively poor status, I seem to do pretty well pretty consistently with AA. But again, as others have mentioned, it really comes down to where you're trying to go.

With regards to IAH vs DFW, I'd take DFW in a hearbeat anytime. Their Skytrain (or whatever they call it) makes traveling from terminal to terminal a snap - all behind security.

I watched my father-in-law get laid off as an Alaska ramp worker last year and have decided to take my business elsewhere when I can. But because AA and AS codeshare the West coast from SEA, I still end up flying them, albeit less frequently.