Agreed. I remember the good old days where if you were checking a garment bag most airlines would break out a special box to put it in. Haven't seen one of those in a while.
In ATL, DL had those lined up in the checkin line. Created a mess in baggage claim; people dumped then next to the carousel on the way out.
When I flew ATL/LAX back in the 70's, they supplied a box for my bike.