Was there some special person who was carrying some important item? Or can you pay to bump other people off a flight like that, just because you're rich?
Astonishing that this could happen, I'm pretty sure I'd take the $10k. Seems like easy money.
Here's a thread of people discussing it: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/208...
Including a reasonable hypothesis: The next available flight was 2-3 days later. So the amount of money could cover 3 days of hotel, food, and lost income. Of course, most people have a drivers license and could rent a car and drive -- but not everyone.
1. There is a regulatory (or contract) issue if this isn't fixed _now_. They would also have had some reason to avoid involuntary deboarding, which they usually don't.
2. A gate agent was angry and wanted to send a message to corporate (possibly just before quitting).
My guess would be that Delta put this policy into place after the terrible United incident.