We have a blast in Mexico - in Baja or the interior 99.5% of the time it is more than great.
In fact I feel freer in Mexico, by far, then in the legalistic repressive US where Law enforcement looks to create fear in the citizens.
Most folks still live on the ancient forgiving clock set by their society as a agronomy based culture.
It reminds me of what the US was in the 1950's really.
When we get into to the smaller towns (that is where to go) we don't look for the police to protect us (they are hardly around) it's the grandmothers that enforce the law.
And they keep a pretty sharp eye on comings and goings in the Pueblos.
I would not want to cross them!
That said, if you are a criminal in Mexico, the US is a great place to run to, and try to hide your past,esp. in the big cities.
We just had a great time in Mex for three weeks, and I don't think anyone in the village we were in was wishing to be in the US.
I know I wasn't. It seemed to be a pretty happy place.