I find it hard to believe people here are saying the US legacies are are better than the likes of Ryanair
I don't think 'better' was an intended word here. I don't think you can even compare one with another. You can only compare airlines which offer a similar type of airline service - whether it is Virgin America or JetBlue in the US these are low cost airlines which do NOT provide network-like connections through the US. Comparing them therefore with Delta or AA or United .. makes absolutely no sense.