I like a strong tea, too. I also like a good cup of coffee every now and then. I've never been a huge caffeine drinker, though, and I'm cautious of getting too hooked.
I don't know what it is about Starbucks, but it just got to the point where I couldn't have anything from there without feeling kind of ill afterwards. As for Timmie's, lets face it: it ain't coffee. The Timmie's coffee and treats are purely feeding-my-craving-for-habit-forming-dependency in terms of function.
At the risk of sounding snobbish, I'd wager the Europeans have us beat in terms of this line of refreshments. I remember visiting England a few years back and being amazed at how good everything tasted - those rules about genetically modified foods have some pay off, I think. There's this kickass Portuguese bakery in Toronto, across the street from the Lula Lounge and just a little East. Best cup of coffee I've ever had (and consistently so), wide assortment of great tasting treats (coffee + treat < $3), and super friendly staff.
As for the Starbucks vs. Tim Horton's trends in Canada, I've got another one for you along the same lines. The greater the population density, the less likely you are to find a pick-up truck. Downtown Toronto? You could be there on the busiest day of the year and not see one. On the otherhand, projecting my theory, there's a town in Canada somewhere with, like, one guy, 17 Tim Horton's, and one million pick-up trucks.