Latest check in time is what it is and may indeed only apply to people who have not OLCIed/have no checked bags, nevertheless, in coming months, with the summer traffic and then the restructuring of CDG operations (all Schengen flights to be transfered to 2F which will thus become a 'double sized' merger of 2F1 and 2F2 and the opening of S4, which will mean that terminal 2E will effectively be made of three terminals: 2E main pier, S3, and S4), I would strongly encourage everyone to check in earlier than they are 'obliged' to.

Anyone going to check in at t-40 minutes, or going through security at t-30 as they have OLCI'ed and have no checked bag are seriously asking for trouble. The move will not be entirely smooth (simply because no move ever is), some people will be confused, and even those who know where they are going will be mechanically slowed down by streams of contradictory passengers going all over the place wondering where they are and agents trying to rectify whatever will go wrong.

My personal suggestion would be to be at check in at least 1 hour before flights even for the case of European flights (longer for international, and strictly adhere to instructions for particularly 'high security' flights such as Israel and the USA)