Well, lately rates I've checked are not a "couple hundred bucks" difference from other airlines so SWA might want to re evaluate their seating plan. I can't imagine it saving them that much money. The only reason I'm flying SWA to Kansas City, MO is they're the only one that I could get a direct flight on. Jet Blue could only get me just so close with a plane change. So I'm paying MORE with no seat assignment on SWA. And SW flies from my home port in RI but only to a very short list of places so I have the added expense/time of schlepping to Boston. If they assigned seats I'd make them my airline of choice.