While Superangrypenguin makes good points about LEGACY systems, ultimately these comments reinforce my view that the industry needs to be completely upended through REAL competitive forces.

I routinely fly EASYJET across Europe, and their App permits using the photo on my smartphone to scan my passport MRZ to populate Boarding Pass information - and I have choice whether to permit EZ to save this information for future booking or do it each time to maintain data in my possession. Quick and accurate, and any add-on purchases with EZ are also available with just a swipe e.g. lounge access.

IATA Resolution 787 just approved by US DoT will permit much more, but again reflects decades old updating of legacy systems.
https://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pa...-08-07-01.aspx

We are debating dinosaurs here, and why should customers be subject to an ROI question, when a competitive marketplace would wipe away this embarrassment.