Originally Posted by
bostonoski
This is what frustrates me... I like to maximize my time in AC and minimize on plane.
Who doesn't?
But of course it's necessary to prioritize -- would you rather have an extra 10 minutes in the AC, or potentially have to gate-check your carry-on? If I'm really concerned about being able to put my bag in the overhead, I'm at the gate 45-60 minutes before scheduled departure, just to ensure I'm at the front of the line. If not, I'll show up at T-15 minutes.
On a related note, the OP's assumption that they began boarding early isn't justified, in my opinion. You'd be surprised how many boarding passes those GAs can scan in 10 minutes, especially if the jetbridge is long and the plane is smallish. Several times I've entered a deserted gate area 10 minutes after boarding began, scanned my pass, and found the entire planeload of pax waiting in the bridge.