Bear in mind that the offer has always been "most" and that the most common exception to "most" is massive IRROPS as ocurred here.
Overbooking by one more isn't generally-speaking a big deal, but it is a big deal when there are 100 SB's for a flight.
I don't think that this was handled any differently than it would have been 5 years ago. Once in a blue moon an agent takes pity and bumps somebody else who isn't standing in front of them.