Originally Posted by
StayingHomeIsBetter
"Rigid" I could agree with.
But "cruel" sounds like a bit of hyperbole.

As regards the cruel, I believe the author was referring to splitting up families. As has been discussed, the onus for reseating will be on the gate agents and FAs, who already have enough to do. IMO it (reseating) promises to be a cluster.
Hopefully the marketplace will impose some discipline on Delta.