To be honest I don't go anywhere without an alternate no matter what the forecast weather. On my wee domestic jet it makes sod all difference to fuel burns to carry the extra. In the past 3 years I have had diversions due to earthquakes on final approach, a student stacking it in on the runway ahead of me and severe turbulence on approach. Do I give a toss what the boss thinks... Not really, I am paid to make that call, the bean counters can worry about the finances. Fact of the matter is I work for an airline that can't justify the purchase or hire of GPU's at each port resulting in regular maintenance burns in excess of 500kgs, it would take me weeks of carrying an extra ton here and there over 30 minute sectors to equal that wastage.