Because I could buy a spare tube today within a dollar of the online ordering price, without having to bundle the order to get free shipping, or wait 2-10 days. Or a patch kit, rim tape or pretty much any odds and ends I need within a dollar's reach of online discounters.

Because they're friendly folks and didn't hold it against me when I bought used off craigslist after letting me test ride a couple of new bikes (good bikes, just slightly out of my budget). And while my neighborhood LBS doesn't currently have a master mechanic (they're still advertising for one, AFAIK), the fellows working in the shop know a heckuva lot more than I do and did a good job with a safety check and basic tuneup on my used new-to-me bike a few weeks ago. And they're willing to share tips. No attitude problems. And they participate in sponsoring local group rides, charity events, etc. Even though I don't participate in those events, I appreciate the shops that are involved with the community.

Another shop, a little farther away, also has good folks and a knowledgeable mechanic who took five or so minutes out of his day to chatter about tires and offer a few recommendations based on my bike, usual rides and conditioning level.

Granted, not all of our LBSs are like that. There are a couple I wouldn't even bother to visit, based on their websites. One appears to be of zero interest to me, emphasizing serious racing, mountain and cyclocross bikes, along with way too much testosterone laden attitude on their website. Another shop caters to Freds, with a snooty reminder not to bother showing up for a test ride unless you have a credit card and three forms of ID.

Nothing new there. I encountered the same variety of bike shops 30+ years ago when I rode much more often and farther. I preferred the folksy shops run by hippies. I avoided the shops where the staff wore racing duds and turned up their noses if you sullied their parking lot with your bike that had Suntour rather than Campy components.