I'm baffled why anyone thinks this is a problem?

When you OLCI, you are given a choice of automatic check-in or not. You simply have to turn this option off!

But why anyone would want to do this is beyond me. You lose NOTHING, you gain a lower sequence number on your BP ... which means you are as high as possible on the upgrade list for your elite status and fare basis. I've had a number of cases where I was the last one upgraded; if I waited before checking in, another Platinum would have been ahead of me and he would have gotten the upgrade. Personally, I'd love it if EVERYONE delayed their checkin; that is good for me! I maximize my odds by OLCI-ing 23 hours 59 minutes before the departure of the first outbound flight, and selecting automatic check-in.

You still get to change your seat all you want BEFORE the 24 hour window, and once you get your emailed BP, you can STILL change your seat by re-checking-in (and maintain your low sequence number).

You can STILL print the BP at the airport; you don't have to print out the email ... but you have your priority in the UG queue. Note I usually have the BPs faxed to the hotel where I'm staying ... that's an option where CO is one of the few airlines that offer this extra convenience.

You have the same exact options in terms of changing or canceling flights whether or not you have checked in.

I can't think of one logical reason why one would not want this convenience.

I even recall a discussion with some CO brass about having the "automatic check-in" option trigger automatically on the outbound, so I never have to OLCI, I just wait for the BP to show up in my email. That's great!

I'm also amused by people who prefer NOT to OLCI, who prefer to wait in line instead of going straight to the gate, who prefer to have a high sequence number and lower % of upgrade? The only thing I can think of you would get while using the kiosk to check-in is that it might offer you a buy-up to F or BF (comment applies more to UA than CO, but I think CO is working on that as well).