> So there are laws to protect the passenger if the airlines overbook you, but everyone thinks it is perfectly acceptable to book a flight with no intention of using one leg of the booking and just not showing for the flight?
Big difference.
You buy a ticket and don't use a return? The airline has been *paid* for a service that you declined. No net loss to them as far as you are concerned - after all they have been paid.
You buy a ticket and airline bumps you because of overbooking? You are being *denied* a service for which you have paid.