No, they changed that a few years ago. Now the cost of the second ticket is automatically refunded regardless of whether or not the flight is fully booked. I actually told the Southwest ticket agent who was questioning my need for two seats that I didn't care about receiving the refund just in case that was what was prompting his view that I didn't need the extra seat. But I think the real issue is that while I do need the second seat (as I have trouble getting the armrest fully down), so do about 30% of the other passengers - but they are not reserving the second seat they need. I''m heavy, but I don't look like the people on "My 600 Pound Life," which makes it more likely that airlines will decide that they can put a skinny standby passenger in my second seat as I'm only sitting on about 2 inches of it.

Who wants to buy a second seat only to lose it as a result of an IRROPS situation or an oversold flight and then be blamed for squishing a seatmate? A first class ticket is just easier to deal with than that (except on Southwest, which I avoid if at all possible).