DLax and Albie,
I think it's got to be a combination of the two, plus a lot more. I get the sense they want the 727 gone faster than planned with oil prices so high. They can only do this by bringing the already lacking 75s to the domestic market. I heard another crew bus rumor that the guy who makes the fleet decisions, AG, I believe, says the 75 doesn't make that much of a difference over the Bus in Paris. If that's the case it makes sense to put off the domicile regardless of who bid it. I think only two seats went unfilled.