Some commands are taking the air boss' guidance to minimize the use of contract fuel REALLY seriously. That equals more planes being serviced by already over tasked and incompetent transient personnel which equals longer waits and less efficiency which results in missions being delayed and crew days drug out. There are unintended consequences to saving 5 cents (or whatever it is right now) a gallon. It never ceases to amaze me how much better an operation that is based around making money (FBO) operates.
Amen.
In Chopper Command, your crew day is already at a premium, since it takes forever and a day to get anywhere. As you correctly pointed out, where can I best maximize my crew day:
1. At East BFE AFB, where I need a PPR, have to arrive during field hours, have to wait for transient line personnel, fuelers, etc., not be able to get a quick bite to eat, and then get a -1 and file a 175 to depart, or
2. FBO.com, where I can arrive essentially unannounced at all hours of the day or night (though, as a professional, I gave them a courtesy call before showing up), am greeted by a lineman upon landing, fueled immediately, given a crew car to get a bite to eat, and then briefed/filed via FSS planeside.
Hey, if my command is willing to pay the extra lodging and per diem required for me to hop from base to base, I'll play the game. As long as contract fuel is legal, though, I'm going to continue to do the cost/benefit analysis that you pointed out.