I'd actually need to be convinced that the problem with carry-on space is people traveling on their own dime. Walking past the ticket counters in a typical airport, I see lots of luggage being checked by people who definitely aren't business travelers.
For business travelers, it's not about the money. Most of us get free checked bags because of airline status anyway. It's about time. I just wish not everyone, however able-bodied, felt compelled to use the rigid roller bags that take up so much room even for a 1 night trip.
That was my thought as well -- there are some (thankfully few) weeks where I would end up adding five to ten hours of airport wait time if I checked my bags on every flight (considering that the times I do check bags I end up waiting 30-45 minutes to get them). Checked bags to me are just a way of extending the aggravation that is modern air travel. Though I'm more than happy to hand them over in the jetway and not have to deal with overhead bins at all....
Sure, a small slice of the people on the flight cannot afford $25 each way. Most people I've observed do not, at least, appear to be that broke. I usually solve "cannot" afford issues by doing less, instead of choosing to make everyone around me suffer.
For business travelers, it's not about the money. Most of us get free checked bags because of airline status anyway. It's about time. I just wish not everyone, however able-bodied, felt compelled to use the rigid roller bags that take up so much room even for a 1 night trip.