Very, very true on all fronts. We've started to go into NJ with some regularity now because my brother and his kids moved out there. I certainly know some folk who love to shop there for the no tax Ikeas, malls, and the like. (And yeah, perhaps I should have done that to save a hundred on my Ikea kitchen a few years back...) But my immediate family and I have never done so. To get to the tunnels we have to traverse all of midtown Manhattan (or downtown Manhattan) or hope some semi hasn't broken down on the approach to the GWB... NY-NJ needs at least 3/4 more tunnels or bridges to make the commute human!
I suppose if you live in upper Manhattan close to the GWB or to those buses that take you into NJ specifically for shopping, sure.
Three things that make driving in NJ different from driving in NYC:
- the signage... every exit or turn has 9+ signs!!!
- no left turns or u-turns...
- and having someone else pump your gas...
And yes, I apologize for driving slower than the necessary 85mph+ on the NJ highways...