I guess that's one alternative. The holding to the gate thing led to a rather absurd result yesterday. On UA flight from LGA-ORD; my upgrade had already cleared. Every few minutes the GA would announce who was #1 on the list and then say that everyone else should board and take their assigned seat. There was only 1 seat left in F. But this started about a half hour before boarding and every time the waitlist changed, a new announcment was made to identify the new reigning #1 on the waitlist. It was INCREDIBLY TACKY. I think on UA they don't come get you from your seat in coach.