IMO it's all about having options. If you are living somewhere that you are locked into a single possible route, you are going to have a bad time when that route is delayed or infrequent. If you choose to ignore a route (subway) then you bring that problem onto yourself. SEPTA underserves huge portions of the city, giving them only obvious viable route to get wherever you are going. But you can often find other options... Can you take a bus across to the next RR line along? Bus to subway? RR Transfers? I've started planning my transit along those lines and have found some really cool trip options.