You assume that everyone can afford the bag check fee. Many can't. Airlines force people to use carry-on.
I don't buy into the airline argument that by adding bag fees as a separate item, the lowered the price of the tickets. They simply increased their revenue and profit. Ticket prices didn't go down; indeed, they have gone up.
You can afford airfare, but not checked bag fee. Ok, how does that work?
Ticket prices 'have gone up' ? Im sure the 'have gone down' too.