I don't mind the nickel and diming either - I spent ~$3 for a (mediocre) cup of coffee on an SAS flight between Copenhagen and Oslo a few weeks ago. Other airlines have been charging a la carte for quite a while. And the fuel costs issue is legit, although I would hope they would see the sense to use a fuel surcharge against the price of the ticket to recoup that.

I usually travel and pack for a week at a time, and except once when I had an additional electronic carryon, I haven't checked a bag in years (this includes lugging a suit). If you're checking bags, you either need new luggage or need to look critically at what you pack.

Mailing ahead your excess baggage makes some sense, but I've never needed it or have been that organized.