It's great to be in the top flight, but I genuinely would want to be in Newcastle's position, rather than Sunderland's (with all the facets of both positions included).
Unless something drastic changes at Sunderland, it looks like it's going to be another season of frustration. Another season without much to cheer about. Yes, you're in the top flight now, and you may even survive once more, but don't you want more than that? More than just being (in your own fans' words) "the turd that won't flush"?
As it stands, Newcastle United are looking good for their promotion push and have money in the bank from the parachute payments + the monies received from player sales this summer. If Newcastle are promoted, they've a squad of lower Prem/Upper Champ players that they can add to without bankrupting themselves. Doesn't mean they'll necessarily stay up if they are promoted, but they at least have a clear vision, a single minded focus. And all roads leads to Rafa.
To put it into context, I wouldn't swap Villa's position for Sunderland's and I wouldn't swap Bournemouth's position for Newcastle.