Interesting. You may have a point, at least regarding US audiences. Here in the UK, audiences are returning. We don't have quite the same health risk worries, probably because we don't have news channels broadcasting fear and paranoia 24 hours a day in quite the same way (in my experience, the US is terrible for that). To be clear, we do have rolling news channels (and I avoid them like the plague), but they aren't quite as nuts, and those that are aren't mainstream (for instance, Fox News, a US import, is a niche channel here).

To touch on your other point, I'm not one for eating whilst watching a film (my attention is split, and I can only focus on one thing at once). I accept that I'm a bit of an extremist, but our local multiplexes are very comfortable, and our local independent cinemas are pretty good too (I'm in southwest England).

I'd love to visit the Alamo Drafthouse, by the way. I hear nothing but good things about that venue. :)