Why on earth would you do business with a company that makes you "<feel> cheated"? RyanAir ran off all of the other airlines? They had the only flight to Dublin to see your poor, sick mother? Flights so cheap that you're willing to put up with the bullshit? It's an honest question, and I've heard some answer it with "they're so cheap, I'm willing to put up with dealing with weasels." But it sounds like the whole weasel-dealing thing isn't for you.
One of the reasons I fly SouthWest, even when they're not the cheapest or most convenient, is because I don't feel like I need to watch my back when dealing with them.