First of all, you only drop reserve days. You cling tenaciously to any flying you manage to get your hands on. I know this is still confusing to guys who have never experienced years of involuntary reserve in ultra-high cost of living bases.

Basically, in some cases the odds of flying (extremely remote) and whatever is left of the pay net of expenses associated with being in base not getting overnights does not justify coming in after commuter hotels run out and insurance is paid for.