Did you all miss the slide of the then and now Alaska network? It doesn't exactly look like they have been standing still. Alaska isn't the right airline if you are mostly concerned about South American international partners or getting to Mobile AL....but then it never was. If you want a full service international airline there are lots of options but Alaska wouldn't be one of them. If you want a west coast/Hawaii dominant airline with lots of non-stop transcons to major cities then Alaska works great.