We all know the answer to this question. They aren't fooling anyone. And it's not just about the immediate increase in profits they get from automation and downsizing. It also weakens unions. But there is one upside to all this: those angry asshole customers are now more likely to have only an inanimate machine to vent their rage at instead of people. And if you're quick, you can sneak out the automated gate behind another customer without paying.