Very true! But that's why I tend to think it's a little predatory. I would suggest that, like with many other similar things, it disproportionately makes money off of the back of some of the most vulnerable student populations who can least afford it.
I also work very heavily with first gen, low income students who are (a) easily scared into feeling like they need to accept, and (b) often really struggle with the finances of the deposit.
It's just like with the CGS resolution for graduate schools. Does it likely make it harder for lower ranked programs to fill a class, because students know all of their options before applying? Sure. But it's also the right thing to do with respect to students, especially from an equity perspective.
I think it made a lot more sense when MD and DO were more separate paths than they are now, but with the increasing acceptance (i.e., merger of residency programs) having two completely different timelines for acceptances is going to be increasingly challenging for students to navigate. With, again, a disproportionate impact on students who are the most vulnerable.
Sorry, I know this has gotten off topic for the immediate topic of the thread, it's just something I feel strongly is worth acknowledging- especially where students (like in this case) feel trapped, scared, and worried about legal retribution for things that are intentionally set up to manipulate them in some way.