Which is easier? A C-section or a vaginal birth?

I have gotten this question twice now from young first time moms who have had c-sections.  They are convinced that a csection is easier. With the c-section rate at 30% in this country, csections are so common they are the new normal way of giving birth. On Sunday night this week, we had 19 patients in postpartum, 13 were c-sections, that's almost 70% of our patients!  And let me assure you from seeing csection and vag patients in recovery, a vag birth is almost always easier. Just the nursing care alone for a c-section should be enough to make it clear which on is easier and safer.  So I've come up with a new analogy for the next person who really wants to know which one is easier.
Uncomplicated vag deliver, no stitches below the belt: Like recovering from your first marathon that you trained well for but never intended to run as a super-athlete. You will be very very sore and tired for a couple days but overall you will be none the worse for wear.
Vag delivery with 1-3rd degree tear: You ran the marathon and got in a car wreck on the way home. No broken bones but you had to have a couple stitches. Now you are sore and you hurt but in a week or so you will be feeling much better.
C-section after long labor: You ran the marathon then on the way home you got into a horrible car wreck and needed a major surgery to put you back together.  Oh and during your recovery you will potentially have full responsibility for a helpless baby. Man, that just sucks!
C-section no labor: I figure you still have a race you just finished because the last couple weeks of pregnancy aren't exactly restful so we'll call it a 10K (not quite as exhausting as the marathon) and you got in the same nasty car wreck on the way home. 

Which one sounds easier to you?

One exception: I think some really bad 4th degree tears after long labors could be harder recoveries long term than a scheduled c-sec. BUT the hospital portion of it, the actual nursing care required, the potential for complications, the risks involved, the csection is still harder.

I heard a short snippet on NPR this week that a big group of docs got together to review the data concerning VBACs and safety and issue some new guidelines. Go figure, they decided that VBACs really are pretty safe and a good way to reduce our ridiculous csec rate. We'll see. At my hospital there is currently ONE doc that will do VBACs on a regular basis.  ONE!