Yeah. You have some good points. Knowledge and a social atmosphere you can appreciate do go a long way. I never looked at it from that perspective, but now that I think about it part of the reason I love mom and pop shops so much, from books and comics to antiques to pet supplies, is because of the conversations I have there. Plus their advice is always appreciated and sometimes leads to additional sales, which is a win for both them and me.
Exactly. I was never really into comics, but I at least vaguely knew the guy who ran the comic shop in the next town over since that's where we got all our RPG sourcebooks. Gaming shops are the classic example: the places people go to play games and hang out. My brother used to spend hours at the local comic shop playing 40K, and got to know a lot of people there. Sadly that place too went under....
It is my sincerest hope that as big box retail continues to flounder, mom and pop shops will start to make a comeback. In my opinion, the atmosphere and level of service in addition to knowing I'm supporting the local economy is well worth both the price premium and the additional time required to shop.