Quick answer is, yes, Delta is going to be doing more of this for Connx flights. I didn't know it was starting already. Delta is in discussions with LAX about a AA Eagle-like remote stand for all Connx flights and the stand would be close to the DL maintenance ramp.

With Alaska in Terminal 6 now, Delta has lost first dibs on 3 of the gates and now has 2nd rights - reducing ability to use them.

The gate crunch at LAX is so bad midday and late night that DL Flight Ops is now instituting procedures for slowing down in-flight plans inbound to LAX and, in some cases, doing scheduled gate holds at the departing airport (so a 757 leaving JFK for LAX would undock from the gate and be considered on-time but then sit for a set amount of time due to guarantee an open gate at LAX on landing).

By the way Delta no longer leases the ex-Western hangar; they pay a use-as-you-go rent.