Well evidently some do, as I've watched folk (not American, btw) spread their belongings out & try to shift stuff from one suitcase to another, or in other cases have more than 2, in the check-in line. I've always felt a bit sorry for them. Can't be fun to do that in front of everyone & w/ the clock ticking for getting it all done before the check-in cut-off point.

And it's not really 100lbs of stuff btw. Luggage itself has weight. I was a bit startled when I realized the weight of my roll-aboard & other luggage.

Actually I expect more non-Americans to start getting close to the limit, as they buy up lots of stuff to take back home, courtesy of the US$ tanking . I have some British colleagues who bring an extra suitcase to a US trade show & go shopping/fill it up before heading back.

But I agree w/ the competition theory.

Cheers.