I used to feel that way too. Even though I've only been vaping for about a week, I did manage to find a place that was selling eliquid in NYC. They have a website, but when I saw their prices, that changed my mind about ordering online. Between a higher price ($20 for a 30ml bottle), the 8% sales tax and the thought of shlepping uptown just to get some ejuice made me realize that it was going to be a much more expensive option. I'd rather wait on the mail a few days and pay a $5 shipping fee and $12-$15 (and often even less than that) for the same kind of ejuice. The online guys I have dealt with were incredibly quick to ship stuff and the waiting was only a few days.
Since I don't live in the Detroit area I can't really help you, but I personally think that the online option is less of a pain. When I first switched I wanted that immediate gratification of having something in my hands right away too, after all, when I got a pack of smokes I just walked down the street to a deli and shelled out $12 for a pack and that was that. The more I research e cigs and especially these forums, it seems more and more obvious that the core of experienced vapers and getting quality equipment and juice are almost entirely internet centered.