I do find it kind of funny how people often tout maximizing mileage for a trip, then balk when they have to/want to make a connection. Seems like you can't have your cake and eat it too
.
At this point I am waiting it out with DL this year, though I have used at least one other airline recently.
I go out of my way to maximize miles with connections when time permits (which is the only way I can maintain PM), but for me it's usually DL non-stop and get home today or OAL connecting and get home tomorrow. The airline that flies the last flight of the day that gets me back to MSP usually wins and that's almost always going to be DL (except for next week when I'm on my first ever WN flight).