I really don't know what to make of my recent experience over Thanksgiving here WRT my carryons. I checked one rolley-cart and was
carrying on an essentail empty satchel and
camera bag containing laptop and accessories
(It's a small laptop) onto a GRE Embraer.
I had not problems getting onto my outbound
puddlejump ORD->LAN, but on the way back the
FA at the foot of the stairs insisted that I could only carry one piece on.
I thought for a second, put the laptop bag in the satchel and then walked up the stairs.
She looked confused for half a second and
then shrugged her shoulders.

It was all just as much stuff, but I was at least hewing to the letter of the law in her eyes I suppose.

JD