Yes, the gate team is important, but do they really do "operationals" if the flight is not full?
For Airoli, are most of your long distance flights originating in ZRH without a connector? I almost always begin in GVA with connection in ZRH, and therefore already have my boarding pass considerably before others have checked in at ZRH. Furthermore, I often get a seat assignment, so I am sure of a bit of legroom thanks to an emergency exit.