re: Do airlines even pretend to enforce carry on rules anymore?

I've flown close to 1M on Delta over the years. With status, who cared. Now I don't have it anymore, so we've been just checking in a bag each and taking an acceptable size carry on (I use the Osprey Transporter 36L and it works great, even under the seat, except those occasional narrow arse aisle seats you get sometimes, so then I go up top). Often upgrade to Comfort Plus, which adds some advantage. And we have the Delta Amex Card which offers some early boarding advantage.

Curious...

Coming home, the airline asked people to check their carry on for free and I volunteered for that. I don't care if my carry on is late coming home.
So I breezed to my seat with only a small backpack at my feet.

Did they bring it out to the breezeway you have to go to baggage claim?