Eastbay1K- I agree with you and I never bought the "Logic" of the airlines or felt these routes were actually unprofitable. At the time I was working with convention travel to the islands and often needed hundreds and even thousands more seats per day then they were able to supply-when questioned why there wasn't enough lift both United and American always came back with the "Unprofitable" line.

My feeling is that FFs accrue the mileage flying RT flights to ORD or wherever and it is those cities that should subsidise the flights to places where FFs redeem their mileage.