To anyone questioning the fixed calender issue, two points –
1) They pointed out to us in Yeshiva once that in places like the Soviet Union where Judaism was illegal and the majority of it eradicated, it was actually extremely difficult if not impossible to get a copy of that years calendar. In such a case there could be a real suffik as to when Yom tov is supposed to occur, so while it is somewhat difficult for us to conceive of, these type of problems do still occur from time to time in the modern era.
2) I don’t know the source off hand but if anyone is interested let me know and I will find out for you, but it’s brought that a deeper reason for 2nd day Yom Tov in Chu”l is that the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael is so much higher than everywhere else that what you can accomplish in 1 day there takes at least 2 days in any other place (which is def a big encouragement to move here if you ask me)
As far as an extra yom tov being a burden, having experience both, I can tell you 1 day yom tov is much more enjoyable. I love all the chagim and G-d forbid I don’t think it’s a burden at all, but I know on my wife’s end of things it is a lot tougher cooking and preparing for 2, and especially 3, days of yom tov than just 1 at a time. Plus while I’m at shul all day she is supposed to keep the kids from tearing the house apart for 3 days straight all by herself? Maybe you want to start telling me the mailos of mesirus nefesh for the chagim but you know what? Hashem made us basar v’dam, not malachim. There’s nothing wrong with doing what is required of you from the halacha and being happy with that… it doesn’t mean that you think the mitzvot are some burden you deep down wish you could get rid of. It just makes you a normal person. Also on the husband’s side of things, being in shul for longer amounts of time and mandatory seudot, while great, do take time. While I personally tried to invest a lot of effort into the davening and extra mitzvot of sukkot this year (and I have no regrets on that whatsover) on the other hand it did leave me fairly behind on my normal learning sedarim which I’m now left playing catchup to. What I’m trying to say is there is a lot to take into the cheshbon, it’s not so simple as just telling somebody, “you either like yom tov or you don’t.”
Additionally, in Israel most business and other things are closed down on Fridays so it has a chol hamoed feel to it anyway. And for anyone who wants to counter that in some places everything stays open and busy on Fridays, you wouldn’t be living in a neighborhood like that anyway so what are you complaining about?
Lastly, what is with bringing this whole thing about “chilonim hate us” or “I’d love to live in Israel but it’s just not religious enough for me.” Is good old red white and blue America really THAT much more Heimish than “secular” Israel? True there are non-religious Jews here who don’t like us but the vast majority don’t and it’s seriously just not an issue in your day to day life here unless you go around looking for it to be. Besides, even if some of us disagree with each other, we’re all still Yiddin at the end of the day. I guess you just enjoy the feeling of brotherhood you get to share with the American goyim better than that eh?