Your post raises a similar question to what I have. If the "top tier" standard is so desirable, why is there not better access to "top tier" fuels throughout the country. For example, I live in Ohio and drive 125 miles a day to work. Here are my options for fuel as I drive to work: Speedway, Kroger, a small Shell station that only sells regular and diesel, Marathon, another Marathon, an IGA grocery w/fuel pumps, a Valero, a Certified oil station, and another Marathon.
My concern with the Shell station is with the volume of sales only selling the two grades. The only "top tier" option in the area is Shell (although Turkey Hill is starting to move into the market.) The next nearest Shell is 12.5 miles each way in an opposite direction @ 2 tanks/week = additional 50 miles/week (not driving an extra 50 miles/wk for gas.) Therefore, I burn a lot of Speedway/Marathon (same thing) and dump a bottle of Techron down the tank at every oil change. I have owned the car since new and it now has 187K on it and runs fine. The "top tier" concept is fine but if certified fuels are not going to be made readily available in all areas of the country, why have it?