Yes, I've noticed there is more room in the overhead bins.

I'm guessing it's got as much to do with the absence of scared discretionary travelers (maybe one or two more trips than T-Giving, or XMas - you know, the ones who have seat assignment "57K" and are stopping to check every row number, starting from "1") as it does with the hand-carry rules.

Suits me fine. By the time I get done dealing with the dolts at security, the last thing I want to deal with is lack of overhead space. I'm in JES GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY mode these days.