This is interesting, because I think apple picking orchards and farmers markets have an advantage here over supermarkets and delivery services. For public orchards, the apples are bred for taste first and foremost. Everyone goes in expecting to see dusty apples, with many worms too, but its fine since that's how it is out in the countryside. Everyone is also eating apples constantly while out picking, even if encouraged not to its an open secret, since after you've tasted the honey you are going to end up with two huge bags of your favorite varieties at the end of the day. Farmers markets also do a lot of free samples, even in this pandemic. You can typically ask at a farmers market for a vendor to slice you a sample as well if you are curious, most of the time they just do it for you unprompted as you are browsing. People become regulars at farmers markets if the vendor has very high quality items. They are looking for freaky mutant looking heirloom stuff in a farmers market, not a perfect plastic looking apple for a good price.
Regarding pick your own orchards, I don't know where you are but here in central MA most of the pick you own business is from tourists. Us locals just buy apples already picked at the farm store for less money. The farmers make the tourists buy the empty bags, not the apples, so they've already paid before they even pick a single apple. Neither taste nor looks really have anything to do with it. It's more about which farm puts on the best 'show'. Some of the farms are also very nasty about eating apples while out picking and will kick the tourists out if they catch them.
I found that over the years, the primary problem with Golden Delicious in my area is that in the stores, they are always still partially green. They pick them too soon, ship them green, and they never fully ripen properly.
