med skool has messed with your taste buds.
Z, all 5 places listed mass produce huge bagels that aren't all that great. But their flavored cream cheeses are pretty good. No one tops the bacon cream cheese I saw a few years back though. Mmmmmmm, bacon cream cheese.
MacThulhu
Can't speak to best bagels, but the best pizza in NY state is Brozzetti's in Binghamton. All other NY pizza sucks.