I've been going to Vegas on a regular basis since 1976. It was better when the majority of the casino/hotels were independently owned. Much better.
Now that almost everything on the strip is owned by two corporations, real competition is gone. Table game odds have been changed to further favor the house. Slots and video poker are tighter than ever. $30 for a buffet? Really?
I would rather go to the Hacienda than Mandalay Bay, the Dunes than Bellagio, the Sands than the Venetian, or the Desert Inn than the Wynn. Leveling the Stardust and Westward Ho to leave a vacant lot with a partially constructed shell of what was to have been Echelon Place was one of the biggest mistakes ever made. The corporate bean counters have lost sight of what built Vegas in the first place, and that was the little guys and gals. The low and moderate rollers that came to town by the millions every year. City Center is a prime example of this misplaced corporate mentality. The last thing Las Vegas needed was 10,000 more ultra high priced hotel rooms and restaurants that peddle $14 hamburgers.
Harrah's recent purchase of Planet Hollywood is the worst thing that could have happened to that property. I have no doubt they'll screw it up, just like everything else they've taken over.
Downtown casinos still "get it" as do many of the "locals" places. While they are all hurting in this economy, these places have not pushed the little guys and gals away.
Hopefully, when Carl Icahn takes over the completion of the F'nBlue, he'll do with it what he did with the Stratosphere - open a nice place with reasonable gaming and affordable room rates.
Lately I've been staying at the South Point. Michael Gaughan knows how to take care of all of his customers, not just the high rollers.