You take it for a variety of reasons.

The only profitable routes are Boston to Washington DC.

Outside of that it's both better and worse. Sometimes you meet friendly people, sometimes your stuck next to folks with hygiene issues.

I've had way more chance encounters flying, went out with a girl once.

It's cool, but so underfunded that I don't think it'll ever catch up to say Japan. An 18 hour highspeed NYC to LA train would be amazing.

I think I did Chicago to NYC once. Afterwards my thought was , cool I did it, I don't need to experience that again.