I agree.
LHR is by no means perfect but it definately has a buzz about it that is hard to match with North American airports.
I mean i was just in LAX and it's meant to be one of busiest in the world yet it felt small and boring. There's no excitement anywhere!
Even big hubs like HKG are boring. Clean, efficient but lacking in any other character.
It doesn't matter what shops you have, it's the airlines and the people that make and airport.