This is not a one-time occurrence. It happens to me all the time when I return late to SFO.

I was listening to channel 9 when we were taxiing to the gate. The controller asked "What gate were you assinged?" And the pilot responded "Gate 88," to which the tower responded "That's very good." I'm not sure what that meant.

Why should it matter about the next day's flight? I don't see why they would have to move the plane since the next day's flight could simply leave from the closer gate.

Not only was the gate the furthest one, even the baggage carousel (#1) was the furthest one away from the entrance and was the only one in use.