it's not cheap because the system works.

it's cheaper because more and more jobs require constant travel so they have much more of the good predative revenue. for example at work I've never seen a 300 mile trip for less than 350. ever. let alone the la-Chicago for 100 they mention in the article. that would look like a bug in my employee's booking system.

what they get from the rest is just icing.

so, convince yourself of that lie all you want. but the system continues to be awful and inefficient. only the demand changed. to their advantage.