Unfortunately, I agree with you. I really do want to like AS given my great experiences when I first started extensive flying (and on AS, as it turned out) in the early 90's. Granted, no airline is like it was that long ago but AS seems increasingly like a sad shell of its former self. The mechanical, baggage loading, and flight crew availability delays are routine. I realize there is much more than I know going on but I usually think while on one of my many AS legs, "you know, this is just basic ops that a little attention to detail would cure."
Unfortunately, all of the airlines have taken a hit in terms of customer experience. AS's service was particularly good in the late 80's and early 90's. Now, they seem to be just the "run of the mill" airline (although I must say that most of the employees still try very hard, but they aren't given much to work with).