Would you choose a "no frills" college or university over a typical residential school in the US?

People can buy a functional, attractive, 100% cotton golf shirt from Lands End. So, with their willingness to go into big credit card debt for pretty much the same shirt w a silly polo player embroidered on the left breast, why would most people opt for no-frills college when taxpayers and college endowments will subsidize all kinds of perks?