EVERY airline does it for various reasons. WN does it a lot. SDC will create a
new segment and give you the miles.

Searching BRU-LAX for a random day next week, I find OVER 40 flight options including multi-stops. DL 125 isn't even the cheapest fare but it is the shortest. Tons of flight options. Also, when checking out, the MQMs are CLEAR as day before final booking.

To the OP, I noticed that you're both a DL GM and CO SE... Since they are both SkyTeam, why not combine miles to either DL or CO to get Platinum instead?

That was my 1000th post? Kind of boring