chollie

The general problem I have with your approach is that you assume that approach will work for everyone.

I don't carry a bundle of electronics, and I'm not likely to in the foreseeable future. Backpacking and cycling holidays in remote areas don't lend themselves to your style of packing.

Some folks carry significant amounts of camera equipment, medical devices, necessary business gear...Depending on destination, multiple sets of footwear (heavy) may be necessary. This specialized, weight- and space-consuming gear often can't be replaced at the traveller's destination. Sometimes time (or health) is critical. If a traveller is joining a tour or has an extensive itinerary, it may not be feasible for the airline to deliver delayed luggage.

Valuables? that varies from person to person. Someone's CPAP or someone else's well-worn hiking boots may be too valuable to trust to the luggage hold.

I don't assume because I don't need/want to travel with electronics that everyone should be forced or encouraged to check them to speed my time through TSA and to minimize the amound of carry-ons (plenty of laptops and other electronic gear get stowed in the overheads!). Just because I don't need suits or special business clothing at my destinations, I don't assume everyone else should check their garment bags.

And you seem to assume no one ever travels with gifts or souvenirs that itchy fingers will find tempting (and that the airlines tell us not to check)!

Note: on the majority of my travels, I'm travelling as an elite, so the fees and limits have never affected me. It's the theft and baggage delays that cause me to carry-on what I do. Generally on my international itineraries, I carry-on much more on my outbound than my return. I carry specialized gear that I can't easily (if at all) replace at my destination, particularly since I'm generally on itineraries that would make it impossible for the airlines do deliver my luggage later.