The major difference is that those types of companies mentioned might not have the choices we have. The Internet provides an amazing number of options and often people shop by price. Warning - you get what you pay for. Connectivity for hosting companies isn't cheap. Bottom line don't cut corners, set a budget for your hosting, this is essential for the success of your company.
Service Is Critical .
Service is critical because when you need help you typically need it now. One of the most frustrating things is a busy signal or eternal hold. This is easy to test, call every department you can within the company to find out if they answer their phone or how quickly they get back to you. Security is important because you want your customers to feel good about purchasing at your site. You don't want to spend your time in this area, marketing is much more important.