It's worse than this. Everything you note happens, but then you are so distracted by the price change that you forget to read all the other things, like there are now at least two classes of tickets, one of which is non-refundable and non-changeable under any circumstances.

And, this isn't the "scam pioneering" airlines like Spirit, this happened to me with American. When I was so busy trying to figure out the total costs once I get out of Google Flights, then I neglected to read the fine print. I have a ticket I called to change two weeks ago, and was told if I don't take that flight, I lose the value completely with zero recourse.

The airlines are actively waging war on their customers. It's awful.