Reputation counts for little in their virtual local monopolies. Many places it's either them or 3g or satellite. Then again, the public at large doesn't care about these issues.
For internet in many places it's them or them. Unless you are ok with very slow or very expensive.
No, they usually compete with Verizon, AT&T and other local telco's.
I doubt this is true in a lot of places. Around here it's basically Time Warner Cable or some form of wireless.
Only in metro areas and suburbs. In most other places, it's a single provider and you're lucky if that provider decides to offer service to your house.