Wendy’s has changed too, and I know they think its been for the better, and some of it has been... but I honestly prefer their old style burgers to their new ones... The new fries are superior to the old, but I do think the old burgers were better.
Wendy’s is still probably the best of the national burger chains.
I’m not sure just how widespread Carls is, but the last time I was there, around 2005, they were pretty good!