Since you're so big on capitalism, consider supply and demand. Tickets to Orlando cost less because the supply is so much greater. Delta must compete against a lot of different airlines on flights to Orlando so the ticket prices are lower including Allegiant which flies the route for as low as $142 round trip. Delta is the only airline that offers non-stop ELM-DTW flights so supply is much tighter. That's how the price gets set. If they could sell ELM-MCO for $800 round trip they certainly would.

Did you look at USAirways for your trip? Looks like they have round trip ELM-DTW fares as low as $360. Of course you'll have to connect through Philly if you don't want to pay the premium to fly non-stop on delta.