Well, seeing how last year the airlines lost/misdirected 30 million bags, is it any wonder why PAX don't like to check bags? 30 MILLION!
I hate it as much as the next fellow watching fellow passengers come aboard with more than they can even lift into the bin, or ask why they have to gate check their trunk on wheels, holding us all up from an on time push. I think the airlines have to do a better job of tracking bags in order to get the public to trust the system, if FedEX can track a package clear across the world, the airlines should be able to do the same with my bags.