Actually, each train as well as the Capitol Limited/NEC to Springfield MA all have their plusses and minuses.
In almost every instance, from my home near Springfield, riding business class to Washington then the Capitol from there almost always comes out the least costly...sometimes several hundred dollars. Riding the opposite direction from Chicago, the connection to the last train of the day to Springfield (#148) used to be 'tight' and I've made it every time as it was slightly less than 2 hours to 'make it' at Washington. With the latest NEC timetable, #148 has been moved back 2 hours account the startup of CTRail communter trains NHV-SPG so it won't have me sweating bullets about making it in the future. In fact, I'll be doing just that the first week of September. I've taken the Pennsylvanian both was to/from the Capitol and it's either a long wait at PGH westbound(in VERY uncomfortable chairs), or being nervous about arriving PGH too late to catch the Pennsylvanian the other way.
If I 'catch it right'(price wise), the Lakeshore Ltd is the best schedule for me, hands down. But it's usually the most expensive, unless I book it 3-4 months or more in advance. It also allows me to save a few dollars and get away from the horn all night by riding coach SPG-ALB then sleeper beyond. The NY section sleepers are directly adjacent to the now bare tables do-it-yourself boxed meal car...formerly known as a diner with real meals. I used to look forward to getting a steak dinner leaving ALB. The switch to boxed meals is a strong negative for me for a number of reasons.
I like the Cardinal for scenery, especially along the New River. However, I much preferred the Cardinal of 25-30 years ago when it ran on a 'flipped' schedule, departing WAS about 9-10 PM and arriving CHI about 24 hours later. That worked out exceedingly well while I was living in Milwaukee and riding Amtrak on business a couple times per month. Connections at Washington to eastern LD trains were great both ways! But at the moment, the Cardinal is 'difficult' for me to get to or from. Westbound, I have to spend a night in the DC area, or, at least, somewhere I can get to DC for the 11:00AM departure...or after September, somewhere along the NEC (maybe NWK) where I can get up at the crack of dawn and catch it. I'm doing that in a couple of weeks. I still haven't booked how I'm getting to WAS, though. I'm still thinking about it. And going eastbound, it's almost a disaster for me, unless I want a too book a hotel room somewhere between WAS and NYP. I've connected to #66 to BOS then SPG maybe 15-20 times, but I decided 2 years ago, sitting up all night trying to sleep is almost impossible for this now 70 year old. These days, I wouldn't even consider connecting to the Cardinal from a western train at CHI. I tried doing that 3 years ago and ended up getting bused from Galesburg to Indianapolis. In watching the almost total lack of punctual arrivals of all western trains at CHI these days, I've eliminated the Capitol Ltd as a connection as well.
So, if I want to save some money, the Capitol Ltd wins. Shortest travel time, the Lake Shore Ltd. Most scenic and, for the moment, the best food, the Cardinal.