Three bucks for a hash brown? You know Simplot sells packs of ten for four dollars, right? And you can cook them on a stovetop with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, right? Hell, if you're desperate, you could even throw a pair into the toaster, although they won't taste nearly as good that way.
My local burger chain has cheeseburgers for $3.50 and fries for $2.00. They are bigger and taste way better than McDonald's, and it's real food that doesn't destroy my stomach. They also have breakfast burgers and a big serving of breakfast potatoes for $2 each. Why would I ever go to McDonalds
Not everyone has a good local place like that. There's a ton of bad local places. If you're in an unfamiliar place, sometimes it's easier to just go with a mediocre place.
You are 100% correct. I'm fortunate to live in Central Texas, where we have a ton of regional chains that do a great job of outcompeting national chains.