I think TCX69 only recently joined BA and used to post in the FT BMI forum, so maybe he/she is just unaware that BA don't want us to put our bags in the front rows.

Some crew do worry about their bags being acidentaly removed by passengers as this has happened to crew (probably accidentaly by a passenger with a similar bag).

My personal view is that we are too generous with our hand baggage allowance and that if we had a smaller allowance like Virgin or Emirates, this would not be such an issue but if course I am sure most FTers like our generous allowance.