Yeah, American isn't cheese. I live near Murray's Cheese, which is basically the cheese mecca, and spend way too much money on way too many kinds of cheese that I'll never remember having eaten but absolutely loved.
I do agree American does have its place, but very limited. As the article mentions (or another article mentioned), it melts in a way actual cheese can't. This can be desirable, as you guys mention, for grilled cheese. Or for a bare basics cheeseburger, as in, what you're throwing on the barbecue for a large group. But most of the time I'd prefer a grilled cheese with better cheese, and man, does gruyere taste really good on a burger sometimes.
Speaking of "cheese," I read an article the other day that said there are four things someone identified as being the core American food, in that it's eaten by the most people, including the pickiest. Chocolate chip cookies, french fries, fried chicken, Kraft Mac'n'cheese, Even as a kid I thought the Kraft stuff was gross. Same with nacho cheese. Cheese shouldn't be liquid at room temp!