There's also a 7am out of ORD that gives you a nearly 3 hour layover at DTW or you can go via ATL with 1.5 hours or SEA with 2 hours or a 46 minute layover at MSP into HND...so it's not like DL is forcing you to either take the 35 minute connection or take another airline.
Personally in this scenario ex-ORD I'd likely go via SEA for the shorter TPAC flight (assuming Y and no specific routing required for MQM purposes).