There used to be a Steak n Shake about a mile from me in downtown Burbank and as I recall it was WAY better than Shake Shack. That place was always empty though, and they're gone now. I don't think they advertised enough.
It does matter to me that In n Out's food is still delivered fresh every day, not pulled out of a freezer. I don't know if that's true for any other fast food burger chains.
I like The Habit because they have tempura green beans and you can get avocado on your burger like a proper Californian but they don't quite scratch the In n Out itch. I think for some of us it's just a nostalgia thing. Nothing else tastes quite like it. It may not be objectively better than a burger I can make at home (I got pretty good at it during the 2020 lock down) but sometimes I feel like having an In n Out burger and chocolate shake and nothing else will satisfy that craving. I'm also in the extreme minority of actually liking their fries. They slice and fry the potatoes right in front of you. They don't taste weird to me, they taste like actual potatoes. Always park and walk in though. The drive through line is not worth it.
I hear ya on the fresh part, however, I’d point out freshness doesn’t matter if you don’t like the food! Or at least if it isn’t among your favorites.
I have a buddy that‘s been an area and regional manager for Del Taco for years (he’s moved up the chain even further now) and he says their beans and other ingredients are made fresh daily as well. Outside of those two examples, I couldn’t tell you who else does it that way.
For me a Double-Char with Cheese from Habit destroys anything on In N Outs menu and their fries, onion rings, tempura beans and seasoned Brussel sprouts are vastly superior side options. I can’t speak to the milkshakes because I don’t do shakes from fast food joints often. That might be a good spin-off topic to this off-topic — who has the best milk shakes!!!
You are spot on regarding parking and walking. I mostly do In N’ Out when my adult son wants to go and that’s how we do it. Never the drive thru. I honestly can’t understand why anyone would be sit and wait through that. No fast food is worth a 30-60 minute wait or longer.