LaGuardia, as you probably know, is getting a total rebuild that won't be done until around 2021. So I guess they are apologizing for their appearance until then. An airport is an airport. So long as it gets me to where I am going. I came from Atlanta airport which is probably 10x the size of LaGuardia. It's about three miles from your gate from where you drop your luggage off! Good airport to exercise in. At LaGuardia last night, it was fun to dodge all the gypsy cabs on the way to the proper taxi stand. They see you coming out with luggage and you are a marked man.
You might find it faster to take your cab to the 125th Street Metro North station. Makes the train ride shorter by @ 10 minutes, too.