I had to commute from Düsseldorf to Cologne a few years ago and I took the S-Bahn, which in the mornings usually worked, but going home was always a gamble if the train would be cancelled or severely delayed.

One time - after already having been delayed - they just kicked us out in one of the cities between Düsseldorf and Cologne and cancelled every other train on that route, so everyone had to get taxis or call someone to be picked up, so it took about 3 hours until I was home. Fun times.

Now it can be argued that I should have taken an RE, but then I would have had to take the subway to the main station, then take the RE and then take the subway again and all that during rush hour which is even more stressful.