Has anybody ever wondered (like me) why United Airlines for over 20 years has offered the ability to listen to ATC on channel 9 when no other airline has?

At one time I thought it might be a patent thing, but that should have expired.

Also, why does United offer in-flight entertainment on *most* of its aircraft when other airlines do not.

All A-320's are wired for in-flight entertainment, yet I think United might be the only ones offering in-flight entertainment.

Could it really cost that much to pop a couple of CD's in the player? Most airlines already have the in-flight entertainment programmed for their bigger airplanes -- which they list in there in-flight magazine.