We could go back to the pre-deregulation era when you could freely change your flights or even your carrier, or even get a refund with little, if any, fuss. No loyalty programs to worry about. Lots of empty seats. Mainline flights to small, out-of-the-way places. Lots of flexibility. Oh wait! We'd be paying thousands to fly in Y instead of hundreds.
No I am not advocating this. And I do not like the changes, either. But sometimes it is calming to think of what the alternative could be.
I wonder what other "enhancements" are going to be rolled out. Looks like they are taking the piecemeal approach.