Sounds like you've been Ryanair'ed. Alas, it truely is the cattlecar carrier of teh world, but people seem to be willing to trade a good experience for a cheaper buck..
I'm with you, however. My last haul to EWR from LAX in the cattle-class section with AA had me truly wondering what had happened to commercial aviation in the past 30 years. I'd gladly pay a few more bucks for honest service..
I miss the regulated days where price wasn't the competing factor, and service was. I realize there's more than one side to that fence, but from back here in row 40B, I'm wishing I could at least feel like my patronage was valued.