Actually, to answer the OP's statement - yes, it actually can get worse...much, much worse. AA 191 at O'Hare was worse. DAL 191 at DFW was worse (and btw - flights need to stop being "191" - If I am ever scheduled on a flight 191 I will not go). Pan Am flight 1736 was probably much worse. So, put in this perspective, your traumatic experience on Mesa doesn't seem quite so bad.

(making the weird, Iceman teeth-clenching move)