The good American cheese is not in fact "1%-er bullshit". Have you gone to a restaurant like McDonalds? You have eaten the better stuff, which comes pre-stacked in a large block. It is certainly much better.
The fact that you called McDonalds a "restaurant" has me cracking up, while yes, it technically is, no one goes there to have a nice sit down meal with the family.
Kind of depends. Vermont cheddar cheese is fantastic and very nice but if you looking for a good smash burger or juicy Lucy burger you have to use that crappy Kraft singles stuff for the proper melt. Sure you can get Kraft in a block of sliced cheese but I am rarely cooking for like 50-100 people, which these blocks come out of.
Kraft cornered the market for a stable cheese in the early 1900’s here in America that melts really nicely and has a long shelf life with Velveeta.
It is very much a different thing than Kraft Singles, you can get however much or little of it (or various competitors) you want anyplace that has deli meats, and the per-pound cost is not that much more, last I checked.
Although some kinds of cheddar might be made in the US, I don't think Vermont Cheddar is what anyone usually has in mind when they say "Deli American Cheese."
I've had no problem getting a good melt on burgers with "good" American, FWIW.
Most block cheeses with a good fat and moisture content will melt well when shredded off the block right before you intend to use it. The pre-shredded or pre-sliced stuff has additives like starch in and on it to stop it from sticking together in the package and melting during transit, which prevents a good melt. Get yourself a cheap rotary shredder from Amazon (they're like $20, mine never stays clean because I use it like every other day) and see for yourself.