All Names Taken, thanks for your comments.
I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by Delta when the wife and I travelled to ATL in Economy Plus with them last December. (I need the extra legroom!). The service was good and even the food was acceptable, although I didn't find the seats all that comfortable. The outward flight was very busy and a late substitution of a/c with a different configuration meant there were 34 J class seats instead of the usual 26, and less economy seats.
Consequently, some lucky folk did get a free upgrade. Not us unfortunately!
one of the big disadvantages of connecting to your final destination in the US as opposed to (say) LHR is the hassle of reclaiming your bag at first US point of entry.
I wouldn't say this was much of a hassle as it only involved picking up the cases, walking a few yards and dropping them off again on a transfer belt, even though our connecting domestic flight was from a different terminal. It was the same at ORD in earlier years.
Have used VS several times to MCO in both Economy and PE. We preferred PE on the old B747s upstairs to that on the new A330.