What is the point of having 2 segments, each on a different plane, and even requiring passengers to change planes between segments, but with one flight number? For example, flight 1176: RDU-CLT, and then customers have to get off and even move to a different terminal, and then CLT-BOS.

Is the only reason for this to get people to be more likely to buy the ticket, thinking that the flight is RDU-BOS, with just a quick stop somewhere? Or am I missing something?