As a devotee of Netflix, I can't say that I've missed the hassle of going to Blockbuster. I would get there just in time to see the movie I wanted disappear into someone else's hands, and I would end up circling the alphabetized new releases, trying to pick something. Thanks to Netflix and On Demand movies, I can instantly watch any number of of films without having to leave the house; it's fantastic.
Yet, I can't help but miss Blockbuster at times. For instance, I watched Meet the Parents with my family the other night. In the usual banter that happens post-film, we discussed the sequel and how we'd never seen it. If Blockbuster was still around, I could've hopped into my car and 30 minutes later had Meet the Fockers. Instead, I had to add it to my queue, where is has remained for weeks and weeks because I keep on forgetting to return Upstairs, Downstairs. I don't even feel like watching it any more; none of us do. But, it has remained in my queue and in my mind ever since. As far as instantly watching movies and TV goes, Netflix and On Demand are obviously the better choice. And, I can definitely say that late fees were the bane of my family's membership at Blockbuster; every visit cost upwards of $20. However, having the choice to go rent a movie was nice. Gone are the days when I was in high school and would go to Blockbuster with my friends in our pajamas since none of the movies at the sleepover were satisfactory. Waiting for 2 days for a movie takes the fun and enjoyment out of the whole rental experience. And, there's no yellow popcorn or stale gummi bears with my Netflix.
