The black "entertainers" with their boom-boxes and break dances are mostly harmless. When they come around to collect "tips", I bury my head in my cellphone and they just pass on by.
The commuter trains (Metro North) are first rate. I've been commuting to Grand Central from Westport, CT for three years now and I've had only three major delays - the latest one being Tuesday night when all three lines were shut down due to those thunderstorms. I still don't have power restored in my CT home and I'm up in Boston tonight staying at a hotel so I can get hot showers and electricity!
Sorry to hear about all your inconveniences! I hope everything is turned back on soon.
Yes, I have to agree with you about the subway. It gets hot and stuffy and crowded but aside from that it works well.