Swedish, just because something is legal does it mean that it is safe? ROA with no auto spoilers is legal as there are performance numbers for it, but it also certainly reduces the margin of safety. What's more, I would be willing to bet that there were other planes available that day that had operative auto spoilers, that were sent to runways in the Midwest or Northeast that were over 10,000 feet, where functional auto spoilers would be much less valuable. Throw in a new Captain and a new FO and safety margin is reduced further. An MD-80 with MELs affecting systems designed to stop the aircraft on the ground or one with all equipment functional... Which MD-80 would you rather be sitting in the back of with your family?