I gotta ask.....what did you guys do in all these states? Especially states like Iowa and Nebraska
Iowa: First time there was on a longish-stopover through Omaha, and walked across the state-line into Council Bluffs, IA. I returned later on the inaugural Allegiant flight from EWR to DSM. Chabad runs a pretty good deli there, and the Capital of IA is there. Otherwise not a whole lot to see/do, but was useful for positioning to my next place.
Nebraska: Had to get from New York to California, and the cheapest United award at the time from NYC to SFO was with a 6 or 7 hour stop in Omaha.