MSG is glorified, processed sodium on crack. I don't like it either. It literally gives me a headache when in Chinese food. Like you, I like to get my meats from the deli counter when at all possible. I like Boar's Head and Publix brand. One thing I have noticed is that the meat doesn't last nearly as long if you get the no MSG no nitrate meat. I bought some Boars head turkey a week ago and it literally last 2-3 days in my fridge in a sealed bag before it was garbage. Luckily I had eaten most of it by then. So the nitrates and such do tend to preserve it. I just hate the taste.
On your first point I refuse to eat Chinese food; it absolutely reeks to me. There's a fairly nice, relatively clean Chinese restaurant near my home I won't even consider it. Why? It happens to be in the Publix Shopping Center where I shop for groceries and if the wind is moving just right from that place you can catch the fine "aroma" of "General Chang's Dog" or "Rat and Broccoli" or "Sweet and Sour Cat" or "Mandarin Orange Goose". Nasty. Just nasty.
Not only speaking of the Deli counter for Boar's Head and other sammich stuff but also go to the Fresh Meats Dept. too; you can find some great Publix brand snausages there which are quite good in my opinion. You do need to cook it sooner than later though; preferably same day.
I recommend the mild or hot Italian snausage; their brats are phenomenal (DON'T buy the turkey meat snausage though); they used to have the best chorizo around but they don't sell it anymore.