For the routings I've checked lately, DL consistently has the lowest fares. I'm starting to think that this is the policy behind all this: create a product with the lowest price that will attract the masses and remain the largest airline. Even with these numbers this is a very small percentage of passengers complaining and if you pay rock-bottom you may be less bothered about a delay or lost suitcase. Fewer FF benefits also fits into this picture, Ma and Pa Kettle do not care for that. But I agree that it is risky and if I see how little it takes for people to start avoiding an airline this strategy may not work very well in the end.