Short check offered at JFK

It could be chance, but on the return leg of my last three BA/VS/VS/BA ex-EUs (JFK-LHR-CPH x2; JFK-LHR-AMS x1), the VS check-in agent at JFK has offered to short check my bag each time. These are VS-UC-to-BA-CE leg with a T3-T5 transfer at LHR.

The discussion comes up because I travel with hand luggage only, and the agent will almost always ask if I want to check-in any of these bags. I always say that I have a long layover at LHR, and that I might need access to the contents of the bags, so I'd prefer to keep them on me. That's when the short check offer is made by the agent.

I don't want to start yet another discussion about the pros and cons of not taking the final sector (I never do, but I understand entirely why people do). I always book a layover of four or more hours at LHR.

Despite all the dire warnings about the consequences of dropping the final leg of an ex-EU, AFAIK there've only been a couple of reports of VS agents refusing to short check luggage and one of someone being charged extra to do so. And none were at all recent.

BA, by all accounts, are far less likely to let you short check bags. But all the warnings about FF accounts being audited and threats of miles & TPs being withdrawn and passengers being billed for the full fare appear to be scaremongering.