To put it more simply, would you rather not get paid for five minutes filling out an MEL on the phone with MX, or would you rather not get paid for 90 minutes waiting for a contract mechanic to come in from home on a Sunday morning at an outstation?

Comair has "balanced" MELs (or whatever you call it) since before I got here in 2003. Delta has rewarded us well for our efforts.

MX does not "come look at" a pilot-deferred item until they're there to fix it.

We also don't fly with open write-ups.

But we don't pump gas or load bags. We're haughty that way.