It seems to me that many of the changes that have been suggested are taking place. I fly American every week, and there seems to have been some improvements within the years. There is some eveidence that the airlines are trying to improve their current Computerized systems. For example, American uses computer generated boarding passes that get scanned into a computer upon boarding, which gives them an accurate assessment for open seats (so they can allow all the stand bys on and pack in the plane...hate feeling like a sardine). Now, you also have the option of bypassing all the check-ins and boarding passes by presenting your Aadvantage card when you board (although I have never done this, i have seen someone do it before). They stick the card into the computer and ask the person a couple of question and then they board. American also allows elites to board at their leisure as long as the cabin is clear.

Continental also offers you the ability to bypass the checkin counter by offering machines in the terminal that read your OnePass card to issue you a boarding pass.

As far as the carryon luggage goes, i think limiting the baggage reduces the amount of time significantly. Even with limitations, i still see that there is never enough overhead space on the plane. The problem is that everyone has a pull man suiter and you can only fit two of them in an over head space designed to accomodate between 4 and 6 people. What they ought to do, is redesign some of the space between cabins to add additional closet space that accomodates suiters. Nobody really brings garment bags on the plane anymore. They could redesign some of that space to accomodate say 6 suiters. This will save a lot of overhead space.