This is true except for Terminal C, which is indeed a mess.

I still like Tegel a lot, as it's very close to the West center of the city.

Indeed, Terminal C vs. A is a big difference.

My worst airport experience has been trying (and failing, twice; on consecutive days) to fly from Tegel Terminal C to Helsinki (EasyJet). My best airport experiences have been flying from Tegel Terminal A (Finnair) to Helsinki.

if you happen to arrive at tegel ahead of time or even worse your flight is delayed, you are screwed. Once in the security area there is little to no decent food nor shopping option.

And yet it's still better than JFK.

Singapore's airport also does right-before-gate screenings at 3 of its 4 terminals.

Unlike Tegel, though, the gate area and the screening areas are open spaces, with glass to separate. Tegel always feels a bit claustrophobic, and as a jet-lagged traveller my first time departing, I admit it took awhile for me to figure out where the hell I needed to go.

source: https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/sec...

Unless a plane is delayed or cancelled at the last minute, which in TXL's case is frequent. This results in a gate full of too many people and a slow down moving anyone anywhere.