Planes, trains and automobiles

How on earth is it possible that Amtrak still has any customers? A recent inquiry into prices and transit times between California cities got me wondering who (besides people seriously afraid of flying) would ever even consider taking the train. Consider, for example, transit time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In a car you can make this trip in about 6 hours (5 if you have a lead foot), for about $40 in gas (depending on your mileage). By plane the time gets cut down to 50 minutes flying (about 3 hours door to door), for a cost that ranges anywhere from $80 to $250. How long do you think the same trip will take you via Amtrak? Try 11 hours and 17 minutes for a total cost of $132. And what if you wanted to travel to Seattle, which is about a 19-21 hour drive from Los Angeles, or just a 3 hour flight. Amtrak will take no less than 34 hours, and will cost you $284 (round trip). Nevermind Amtrak's safety record, which (for me at least) leaves a bit to be desired. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I just don't get why anyone would choose to travel by train. Those transit times and prices are almost enough to cure someone of a fear of flying.