[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

If one takes the cynical view that the OP is a perfect example of people who can't take personal responsibility, rather than someone who travels infrequently, and is not used to the airlines' shell games, then a refundable fare is ideal, albeit expensive, for this type of person. Yes, one of the rules requires check-in by a certain time. The OP didn't follow this rule and he got nailed for it. Was the airline acting within the law? Absolutely. Did the airline even offer one of those worthless vouchers they like to hand-out? No. Did they cancel his return reservation? Almost certainly. So was this man treated fairly under the circumstances? I think a lot of non-airline people would answer no?

The only reason why the many rules connected to a given fare are legal is because said rules are NOT subject to state law. Under the laws of many states some of these fares would be illegal transactions because of the length and other confusing aspects of these rules.

As to my political affiliation: The main reason why you see me bashing flight attendants is because I am a strong supporter of civil rights and am therefor repulsed at the idea that a group of people, who aren't anything near a law enforcement officer, are allowed to effectively exercise police powers in a manner completely contrary to the notion of justice in a free Democracy. Accordingly I am one of a small group of "Second Amendment" Dems in a sea of Republicans in the northern Rockies.