If I interpret your reply correctly, you are looking at the deal from NYSE Euronext's perspective (i.e. "deal pays for itself and then some"). Am I right to assume, then, that from the perspective of AMEX's owners, they got screwed?
Gee, thanks for piquing my curiosity and then leaving me wondering. What do you mean by "thieves slip quietly into the night under different names "? Please explain (because I think that you and I might share a common perspective).
Today was the first day the the WSJ used the name Alternext in the New High/New Low section where the Amex used to be. However, in the trading diary, it still gives the name as Amex. My data program still uses Amex as well.