I am in complete agreement that extra fuel costs money. I suggest 3.5% per hour for the extra carried on the 737 is a typical figure. So taking the proverbial fag packet and rounding up, a thousand kilos extra on one of our average flights costs 40 kilos.
If there are no perceived risks, as you put it Rainboe, then there is no problem taking flight plan fuel. However your suggestion that needing extra is a once in a blue moon requirement is a bit short of the mark in my experience. On those occasions 50$ as against the thousands for a diversion is reasonable insurance.
Maybe you are a management pilot and have access to all the statistics (lies, damn lies, statistics etc.). But the statement that extra fuel merely delays the inevitable sounds a bit subjective.
There are definitely two churches out there as far as extra fuel is concerned. The minimalists are in the minority in our company judging by our remaining fuel figures. But obviously I cannot see those in your company.
I definitely agree fuel and cost can be saved in this area. I guess where we disagree is in the size of the cost / benefit equation, when also factoring in safety.