it's fast, it's in the right/easy spot to drive through, and holy shit the margins are bonkers. somebody posted some internal price sheet of the processing material cost of the mcdonalds menu, and everything is measured in pennies. like a big mac is probably something like 14 cents. i think a sausage biscuit was like 3 cents.

mcD franchisees figured out during covid they could operate with a skeleton crew to keep drive through rolling, and seem to have focused everything on that. not to mention, there's the whole franchise angle, so the mothership is the source of the materials, and extracts a licensing fee, and location rents. the franchisee is making most of their nut on labor law violations, and the franchise relationship insulates the mothership from systemic labor law violations. what a country!

but this is all besides the point. you're getting at how the food fuckin blows and you're right, it's legit cheaper or at least comparable to go to something that isn't taking 18 months off your life. the prices have become ridiculous.

i used to hit mcD's on weekend mornings when i woke up not-at-home and had to cruise across town with a hangover. i would get a paper bag full of garbage, get home, and eat it on the couch while watching TV and sleeping off the night before. once i stopped drinking, mcD's stopped.