Hi Stevmag
I'm sorry that you didn't get as much out of Gold Leaf as I did but, as you say, it's all down to personal opinion and expectation I suppose.
On our trip, we definitely got the 'unlimited drinks and snacks' as advertised (including freshly baked and still warm cookies from the kitchen below us) but, given the huge quantities of superb food on offer for breakfast and lunch, none of us really wanted much.
We also had a full running commentary from our lovely attendant Brandi and her team, but not so much that there was constant talking on the microphone. Sometimes it was just nice to enjoy the peace and take in the view. They did, however, make a special point of giving us plenty of warning if a specific view or photo opportunity was coming up and also advised us if we would get a better picture from our seats or the vestibule (depending on the time of day, there was sometimes reflection on the windows from the sun).
We also had time for a couple of fun games/competitions amongst the travellers in our car. To this day I treasure my little 'Order of the Salmon' pin that I won on behalf of the JY group having 'taken one for the team' and agreed to write our entry in the Rocky Mountaineer limerick competition. (Naturally, it started...."There was a young lady called Brandi...." and I'll leave you to work out the rest....)
Speaking of the glass dome, I've just remembered that Sookie asked about the heat from the sun in the car. This isn't a problem because there is full air conditioning and the glass has an anti-glare covering on it. The leg room is also fantastic (I'm tall) and the seats are like arm chairs. One tip I would suggest is to negotiate with the person sitting next to you that one has the window in the morning and then swap each afternoon. That way, you both get the best views, especially of the mountains on Day one because the terrain on Day Two is much flatter as you head from Kamloops to the coast.
Finally, as I said, the choice of which service to go for is all down to personal opinion and of course I can't speak for the Silver Leaf because it hadn't been introduced in my day. My friends in Red Leaf did seem to enjoy themselves, but they did mention not being able to move around very much and also complained about being stuck in a dark tunnel of trees for ages when one of the freight trains passed. None of us saw much wildlife on our two day 'Journey through the clouds' but I have heard of others who had amazing experiences of bears, elk and ospreys.
I haven't done 'Route 66' (yet...) but I'd board the Rocky Mountaineer again like a shot!
All the best
Mandy