Minimum Stays
Clearly, minimum stay requirements benefit the hotel as they help increase occupancy on the shoulder days. However, they also help any guest who needs to stay at a hotel for more than one night. These types of restrictions are only used when projected demand ensures a sold out night.
Purposely evading a minimum stay requirement becomes an ethical question. While it may personally benefit you, it means the hotel will effectively lose money. It also means that a guest who wants to stay for multiple nights will be turned away. Finally, tipped hotel employees lose out on the opportunity to earn a living because the room will be empty on the second night.