Full disclosure... I feel that anyone trying to game the system like this should suffer the greatest consequences that the system can provide.

Someone may need that seat that you are maliciously planning to hold in abeyance until the last moment.

Yes, maybe the plane will go out with empty seats anyway. Maybe some standby passenger will take your seat when it becomes available at the last minute.

Or, maybe someone at home will give up trying to book that flight (a flight he/she needs desperately) because it is showing sold out.

Whatever happened to people having the common decency to consider how their actions might impact others?

Hint: any post that begins with "I am wondering how much I can get away with" sends up a red flag.