Your understanding of the (previous) float is not right. Banks were not using 'your' money while it is in the float. Incorrect.
The bank has not recieved 'your money' until the other bank gives it to them. When you hand the check to the teller is not when you gave the bank 'your money'...
With Check 21 a cross country transaction (say from Florida to California) should not exceed 2-3 days tops--in a worst case scenario.
For that type of transaction you would be sitting for about 2 days, which is less than half of before.
oh puuullllllezzzzzz
every adult knows that transactions are made overnight...
welcome to the 21st century...
and if you think it takes 3-5 days to complete a transaction then you are in for a rude awakening
for over 20 years I have seen checks clear overnight from banks 3000 miles away from each other...
banks have been screwing their depositers for decades
and for over 20 years I have had to call my bank to have funds released because the check had already cleared days in advance of the "hold"...