This is an excellent point but I did alter my SOP to accommodate not getting extra fuel. In my judgement I could do this safely with extra effort while waiting stationary. It was not the fuel but the added complexity not having it added, which is why I made the decision I did. The initial reaction was no and the excuse was provided after an additional discusion of payload optimized. The flat out no and then tone was the indicator of how further discussion would play out. My point is to show that there are situations where dispatch tries to get thier way and you as PIC have to choose to confront or reevaluate your ability to operate safely perhaps with extra effort or accepting a delay.

This is only speculation because the discussion didn't go any further but I think he had already run the numbers knowing it was close and was pleased with himself and his ability to tell someone there no need to bump pax prior to our discussion. He may have had to go back to load planning and say ...um, oops. I think this may have allowed him to save face or avoid supervisor interaction but again I don't know. It all worked out fine so maybe this is how Delta wants it done, shut engines down each time you come to a stop waiting for deice? We had min fuel for T/O by 200lbs and we never had to declare min fuel so win/win, right? We saved gas and filled the jet.