BA may not always be great when things go wrong - which airline is? - but they do at least make an effort. If a BA flight is cancelled you know that they will provide accommodation and food and another aircraft to take you where you want to go. If a Ryanair flight is cancelled you are left to fend for yourself, either to find your own way home or to book another Ryanair flight possibly several days later. Without any kind of financial compensation, of course. That is the Ryanair business model.
That is why many people, including myself, choose to fly with the full-service airlines. It's nothing to do with the "free" refreshments.