Tenderloin: IMO, initial ultimate objective is lower initial cost, lower operational costs, and a pleased customer. Lower operational costs include no downtime for aircraft for IFE repairs, lower fuel and landing fee costs both of which are weight determined, and focused and better utilization of resources, i.e. requested allocation of players for ea. flight.
I expect that airline's revenues earned are not just coming from rental fees. Also likely is that airlines could be earning revenue from advertisers appearing in content or gain free advertising and promos themselves as part of display. This becomes a convenient way of highlighting travel venues for passengers arriving at their destination for which the local (destination site) enterprises appearing on screen pay airline/APS & others.
Wonder how many train, cruise line, and bus passengers would appreciate and welcome these devices.
