Try flying almost anywhere OTHER than the USA. Ask here in Australia if you can get on the earlier flight and unless the airline has concerns about weather/operational problems later (in which case they likely would have made the offer at check in) you won't be asked to pay $75...You will be told "Your ticket doesn't allow that".
Especially as a non status pax which was the OP's position.... wonder what the OP would say about QANTAS after experiencing that?
Interesting that the defence of WN ended up including the benefits of A-List etc...… Shouldn't the comparison have REMAINED with "no status"?