When selecting an edge loop and pressing the key delete. It deletes the edges but leaves the vertices.
Using Ctrl+Delete is deleting the edges and the vertices.
Ctrl+Delete should be the default behavior and mapped to the Delete Key. I can't think of any case where I need the vertices to be preserved, and if I can find one, it's certainly the exception and not the rule.
Right now if you work in your geo and forget to properly delete edges (and vertices), you get a messy geometry and cleaning it up is painful.
