Acela vs. Amtrak Regional Train vs. Driving vs. flying - Trains Magazine

After reading a recent article about the Northeast Corridor, I was curious to see what the Acela schedule was from Boston to Wash. DC.  Amtrak shows it as 6hrs 44mins and $149 one-way.  The Amtrak Region schedule is 1 hr longer at 7hrs 45 mins, but the fare is much less at $87 one-way. 

I wonder how folks evaluate the value of the schedule being an hour quicker vs. the addl $62 cost. 

I guess I would have thought that the Acela schedule would beat standard equipment by more than an hour.  I'm not sure why I thought that, maybe all of the hoopla about the new equipment and the 150mph speed between Boston and central CT. 

Ironically, Google maps directions shows the distance as 441 miles and the drive time (obviously subject to traffic) as 7hrs 45 mins, exactly the same as Amtrak Regional.   At what I believe is the current mileage reimbursement rate of $ 0.405 / mile (per Kiplingers.com), the reimbursable drive cost for the same trip is $178, so even the higher Acela fare is cheaper for business travelers. 

But here's the tough one - according to Kayak.com, I can fly from Boston Logan to DC in about 1hr,45 mins, on any one of several airlines, one-way for $110.   That's tough to overcome vs. an addl 5-6 hrs on the train for fares in the same range.  Looks like a pretty competitive commuter airline market.

Now... is there a ferry schedule???