I live 80 minutes from the parking area of DTW. I have to plan to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to my flight and because TSA likes me extra special I try to arrive 2 hours before my flights in order to deal with enhanced searches and lines. A typical flight to the east coast (NYC, DC, Philadelphia) takes about 3 hours flight time, plus 20 minutes to deplane, 5-15 minutes to get to baggage, 0-20 minutes to get my bags, 10-20 minutes to get a car or uber, and another 30-45 minutes to get where I'm going. Total for a normal east coast trip is 7-8 hours. If everything goes right. If I have a connection, add another hour.
On the way back, I'm at the mercy of the airline schedule so when my meetings are done (as happened last month), I may have 6-7 hours sitting around waiting for my flight home. Round trip then in terms of sunk time is about 22 hours on average. This doesn't count the aggravation of being x-rayed, pawed, having to pay $25 for a mediocre burger and beer at the airport, being cramped next to a fat sweaty farting slob who spreads into my seat, etc.
In contrast, if I drive, I can carry a real firearm (flying, I usually just take a small .380 in checked luggage which is now prominently flagged as containing a firearm on Delta), I don't have to worry about whether my carry on happened to be with me when I traveled to my last shoot or hunting trip and still has ammo in it, I can stop any time I want and not have to wait for a bathroom, the air is clean, etc.
As a result, even before this United debacle, I was always drive if the trip was something I could drive in 11 hours or less, and occasionally I'd bump it up to 13 hours. While I am betting that United (as well as the other airlines) will be on extra special good behavior going forward for the next six months or so, I'll probably presume that I will drive if I can do it in 13 hours, which is pretty much my limit for a day of driving.
It’s insane. Completely insane.