I agree with you about the staff, but that's how they keep the prices down, and again some are better than others and if you don't like the coffee don't go in for one, which I assume you don't, I find it perfectly acceptable for a quid a cup with free refills.
As regards the buildings, in my experience they usually try and keep the exterior in sympathy with what was there before, if it's worth keeping, obviously the interior has to be changed
As you've probably gathered I use them a lot, cheap good quality real ales, and decent food, whenever I'm visiting an area for the first time I always find out where the nearest one is