Serious question: why is checking a bag treated like a travel sin?
Everyone acts like you must only take carry-on to save cash, but I often save way more by checking a bag full of my own food and gear. The bag fee is less than what I'd spend buying everything at the place I'm going.
Read an article in the Wall Street Journal last year that said frequent business travelers started the carry-on only trend. Makes sense for them but regular vacations are different. I always check a bag to bring my own shampoo and snacks, saves me a fortune at the hotel.