Real "American" cheese was originally and still typically is colby and jack, gently melted, with sodium citrate added, which is what changes the texture completely and makes it nice and melty.

Kraft singles are designed to mimic this - and whatever, they are what they are, but a proper American cheese will be as tasty as the cheese it's made from. And technically, you can make your own - with any meltable cheese - although I probably never would. Difficult to get a loaf of it at a proper size to slice, difficult to slice..... heh

To me, even a good American cheese is really better in a grilled cheese or on a burger or whatever. It's fine to snack on, but if I'm snacking on cheese, I'm going to the cheese shop and spending way too much money on tasty little morsels :)